Amid political instability and an unravelling global fabric, the world’s largest retailers are struggling to manage complex operations. Meanwhile, local and regional firms are gaining ground as governments pave the way for retail and make it easier for everyone—not just the global giants—to enter new markets. Revealing fault lines in established patterns, the 2017 Global Retail Development Index ranks the top 30 developing countries and pinpoints not only the most successful markets, but also those with the most potential.

1. 2017 Global Retail Development Index
The Age of Focus
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2. Guiding retail investments since
2002, the GRDI ranks the
top 30 developing
countries and
identifies the
most attractive
markets for
retail expansion.
2017 Global Retail Development Index
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3. Amid geopolitical
instability and the
growing power of local
and regional competition
in emerging markets,
global retailers are
forced to rethink their
strategies.
2017 Global Retail Development Index
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4. Regional and local retailers
are gaining ground as
they are better equipped
to manage the risks
of the world’s
rapidly growing
emerging markets.
2017 Global Retail Development Index
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5. The most dynamic region in this
year’s Index is Asia Pacific—
home to half the countries
in the top 10.
2017 Global Retail Development Index
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6. India claims the top spot, thanks
to its rapidly growing economy,
consumption boom, and more relaxed
foreign investment regulatory
environment.
2017 Global Retail Development Index
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7. Long the Index leader, China
drops to second but still leads
the pack in areas such as
e-commerce.
2017 Global Retail Development Index
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8. The Middle East and North Africa is
a region of contrasts, with security
concerns and oil price challenges
on the one hand and
some of the world’s
most innovative retail
projects on the
other hand.
2017 Global Retail Development Index
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9. Latin American countries
are moving in different
directions. Some prosper,
and some are challenged
by stagnant economies
and shrinking
consumption.
2017 Global Retail Development Index
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10. Sub-Saharan Africa
is a growing retail
destination due
to improved infra-
structure, rapidly
growing consumption,
and increasing
urbanization.
2017 Global Retail Development Index
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11. 2017 Global Retail Development Index
Declining consumption
caused by oil price
challenges has
hampered retail
markets in Eastern
Europe and
Central Asia.
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12. Mobile shopping—skyrocketing
in India, China, Vietnam,
and Nigeria—will lead
online sales in emerging
markets.
2017 Global Retail Development Index
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13. A.T. Kearney is a leading global management consulting firm with offices in 40 countries.
Since 1926, we have been trusted advisors to the world’s foremost organizations. A.T. Kearney
is a partner-owned firm, committed to helping clients achieve immediate impact and growing
advantage on their most mission-critical issues. For more information, visit www.atkearney.com.
To learn more about this year’s Index
and where each country ranks:
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2017 Global Retail Development Index