Abstract

MOLLA-DESCALS, Alejandro; FRASQUET, Marta  and  RUIZ-MOLINA, María Eugenia. Magnitude and intensity of the internationalization of the large distribution retailer: an international comparison. Innovar [online]. 2011, vol.21, n.39, pp.53-66. ISSN 0121-5051.

In recent years, there has been a marked trend towards internationalization by large retail companies. The literature stresses that this process of internationalization of distribution presents differential characteristics compared to the expansion of foreign markets by manufacturers. However, differences in the tendency towards internationalization among different types of retailers have until now received little attention. Thus the objective of this work is to study the magnitude and intensity of the process of internationalization of the main European distribution channels through a comparative analysis of the main French, British and Spanish flagship stores. Through a combination of diverse methods (frequency and contingency tables, variance analysis and regression analysis) evidence is obtained in favor of the relationship between diverse characteristics of the company and its results with respect to its degree of internationalization. Specifically, the company's country of origin and the sector of activity in which it operates significantly influence the tendency of a commercial company towards internationalization. In contrast, variables traditionally associated with internationalization of a manufacturing company, such as its size, do not appear to have a significant influence on a retailer's tendency towards international expansion.

Keywords : distribution; internacionalization; characteristics of the company; results.

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