Overseas revenue now accounts for almost a quarter of the top 100's total income, with the highest international growth in Asia - a rise of almost 300 per cent.
By comparison, the total revenue of UK operations for the same group has increased by just 39 per cent, from£45.8 billion to£63.6 billion, over the past five years. There has also been a 33 per cent increase in the number of retailers from this list with an overseas presence.
Grant Thornton's Retail Services team head David Bush said: 'Fiercely competitive domestic trading conditions are driving UK retailers overseas like never before. This migration has been apparent for a few years now, but the extent to which this trend is developing is staggering.
'What is more, it's not just the biggest UK retail players such as Tesco that are trying to grow their top line overseas. Smaller retailers have also felt confident enough to test the water in foreign countries.'
The top 100 UK retailers now have a presence in 55 different countries across the globe, and revenues from international markets are expected to increase even further.
Grant Thornton chief economist Stephen Gifford said: 'By 2012, we forecast that the total revenue derived from the international operations of the top 100 UK retailers will almost double, to about£35 billion, and represent around 30 per cent of total revenues.
'But the future market is likely to work both ways; UK retailers may face greater and greater levels of competition from foreign players and they will need to rise to this challenge.'
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