US retail companies development: The Wal-Mart Stores case

In his article the author, basing on the example of the largest North-American retail company Wal-Mart Stores, depicts the main trends, stages and key development features of US retail companies in the end of the XXth - start of XXIst centuries. Wal-Mart is compared with other world trade leaders, with its successful initiatives and failures described. Between the key growth factors, special attention is paid the new supply chain model of Wal-Mart, which was put in place in the mid 1970-ies and became the best practice for the whole industry. In conclusion, the importance of US companies for the world retail sector is analysed, as well as their development perspectives for the coming years.

US companies, measures of economic activity, retail trade, competitors, development concepts, world markets