Until recently, retailing has been considered national, or even local, in character. In the 1990s the competitive retail environment has changed dramatically. The increasing dominance of distribution channels by large retailers, the emergence of global regional trading areas such as the Single European Market and the convergence of international consumer tastes have led to a fundamental shift in perspectives. If major retailers are to remain important commercial entities, international expansion is no longer an option but a necessity.In this volume leading management researchers provide an up-to-date and thought-provoking insight into the companies and mechanisms which are driving forward the internationalisation of retailing by examining: the international expansion of companies such as 7-Eleven, Wal-Mart, J. Sainsbury, Benetton and COSTCO; the development and characteristics of Japanese retailers; the rapidly expanding markets of North America, Europe and the Pacific Rim; image and positioning strategies; and the integration of European retailing and the growing importance of eastern Europe.