WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation (NRF) has released its 2026 Top 50 Global Retailers list, with Walmart retaining its position as the world’s largest retailer based on 2025 retail revenues.
Compiled by Kantar, the annual ranking evaluates retailers solely on retail-specific revenues, excluding broader corporate income streams as companies continue to diversify beyond traditional retail operations.
“The retail industry continues to show its strength, delivering a solid year despite a range of ongoing challenges,” NRF Chief Economist and Executive Director of Research Mark Mathews said. “The retailers on this year’s list have demonstrated impressive growth and an understanding of evolving consumer needs, highlighting the industry’s continued resilience.”
Following Walmart, the top tier remained largely unchanged, with Amazon, Schwarz Group, Aldi, Costco, Ahold Delhaize, and Carrefour all retaining their positions from last year.
Further down the list, IKEA and The Home Depot each moved up one spot to eighth and ninth place, respectively, while Walgreens rounded out the top 10. Seven & i Holdings fell out of the top 10 after divesting its department store holdings in Japan.
Kantar Senior Vice President of Global Insights and Technology David Marcotte noted that macroeconomic pressures played a significant role in shaping this year’s rankings.
“The list reflects a year that started quietly but quickly grew more challenging due to U.S. policy shifts and rapidly changing tariffs on almost all goods,” Marcotte said. “Volatility in key commodity costs, product availability and trade patterns forced global manufacturers and retailers to make quick strategic pivots.”
The ranking methodology assigns scores based on a retailer’s domestic and international retail revenues, and eligibility requires a direct investment presence in at least three countries.
The 2026 list underscores how scale, geographic diversification and continued investment in digital and international operations remain critical differentiators as retailers navigate an increasingly complex global environment.
Submit Your Press Release
Have news to share? Send us your press releases and announcements.
Send Press Release
