Ten retailers to watch

Another bit of research from IGD is a list of ten global retailers who have "an impact beyond their scale." Number one on the list is Hong Kong's AS Watson:

... the world's largest health and beauty purveyor with sales of $11.4 billion from over 7,000 stores in 36 countries. Of those 36 markets, 17 are emerging geographies like Romania and Russia, whose growing ranks of middle class shoppers are eager to purchase cosmetics and hair care products, Gunz notes. The company hopes to have 10,000 stores by 2008, with a possible entry in the US coming down the road.

The rest:
2. Central Retail Corporation (Thailand)
3. Couche Tarde (Canada)
4. eBay (USA)
5. Pantaloon (India)
6. Perekriostok (Russia)
7. Tchibo (Germany)
8. Wegman's (USA)
9. Whole Foods (USA)
10. Wu Mart (China)