In recent years, the retail competitive environment has been transformed. Retail has been considered national or even local in character. In the 1990s a different environment has emerged. 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. Today the large retail enterprise which does not think on an international basis faces marginalisation by those competitors who are building international operations. The book brings together leading management researchers in the areas of international retailing. They provide an up-to-date and thought-provoking insight into the mechanisms which are driving forward the internationalisation of retailing.