Group sales outperformed three closest rivals put together
Leading international retailer Wal-Mart is three times the size of its nearest rival Carrefour, according to the 2006 Deloitte Global Retail Powers report.

The US-based group had sales of $287 billion (£160.7 billion) last year, which was more than its three closest rivals put together.

Tesco came fifth in the list of the world's top 250 retailers, with sales of $62.5 billion (£34.9 billion), behind the American home improvement chain Home Depot and German company Metro.

E-tailer Amazon was the sixth fastest growing retailer, while UK supermarket group Morrisons was seventh, with sales boosted by its acquisition of Safeway. Focus Wickes came 14th in the list and Carphone Warehouse was 23rd.

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