Carrefour in Asia (B): The Expansion in Asia

Carrefour, the second largest mass retailer in the world, has expanded its presence in the Asia Pacific region and competing head-on with Wal-Mart and other Western and Asian mass retailers to capture a significant position in the region. The case retraces the historical development of the expansion, starting with an entry into Taiwan in the late 1980’s.

By 2004, Wal-Mart, the world's largest company, operated countless discount stores, neighborhood stores, hypermarkets (Wal-Mart Supercenters) and membership warehouses (Sam's Club). In the 1990s, Wal-Mart started to expand abroad, entering entered China in 1996, Korea in 1997, and Japan in 2002.

This case looks at development opportunities for Wangfujing Department Store, one of China’s best known retailers.