Kearney – Global Retail Development Index, 2024

The Global Retail Development Index (GRDI) by Kearney provides crucial data and insights for retailers looking to enter new markets or expand their operations. The biennial index evaluates emerging economies based on economic health, stability, government policy, competition, consumer behavior, and more. The top-ranked countries offer the highest potential for retailers. The index operates on a 0-100 scale, comparing countries in terms of the urgency for retailers to establish a presence. This year's GRDI highlights the Middle East and Africa as a growing retail hotspot, with factors like youth-driven populations and favorable government policies contributing to high potential for sector growth. Despite challenges like inflation, modern retail players are adapting to diverse market forces and crafting winning strategies. Globally, key trends impacting developing nations include macroeconomic uncertainty and consumer trade-down due to inflationary pressure. Retailers in emerging markets are increasingly choosing local and private label products over expensive imports. Successful global retail players must strategically balance long-term and short-term goals in a diverse portfolio of countries.