This chart of the Top 10 U.S. retailers is surprising, depending on where you live. Wal-Mart is obvious; Kroger is not, depending on your address.
Wal-Mart’s position here shows that it likely obeys no tradition rules when it comes to strategy. They are in fact unique, perhaps without a peer in history. Check out the company’s recent acquisition of Chinese e-commerce retailer Yihaodian. They are playing a new game and thus will probably win it.