350 billion euro turnover
With a 476.29 billion dollar (some 350 billion euro) turnover and a 16.02 billion dollar (some 12 billion euro) profit, Walmart has regained first place in the Global 500, a list with the largest 500 companies in the world based on turnover. American business magazine Fortune’s top 10 consists of Walmart at number one, 6 oil companies in pursuit, car manufacturers Volkswagen and Toyota at 8 and 9, while resource company Glencore sneaks in at number 10.
According to Fortune, the largest 500 companies managed a joint turnover of 31,100 billion dollars (22,880 billion euro) in 2013, up 2.5 % compared to 2012. The joint profit was 2,000 billion dollars (1,470 billion euro), up 27 %.
European companies are represented the most, with 150 places to be exact, while the United States have 128, China has 95 and Japan has 57. Looking at separate branches, then banks take up 55 spots, oil 40 and automotive companies 33.
A lot of retailers
The Global 500 also houses a lot of well-known retailing companies. Samsung Electronics reached 13th spot, beating its American competitor Apple, at 15.
American drugstore chain CVS Caremark is America’s second largest store chain (trailing Walmart), at number 35. American wholesale company Costco Wholesale reached number 60, French distribution giant Carrefour is at 65 and German trade concern Metro at 91.
AB InBev is the only “Belgian” enterprise in the list with a 43.2 billion dollar turnover, at spot 250. It trails Dutch Royal Ahold at 247, while the Netherlands have other representatives in the list, with plenty of banks and insurance companies, but also Philips (370) and Heineken (463).
