And Dell announced a deal Tuesday with Europe's Carrefour Group to sell Dell computers in 365 outlets in Europe next year.

FORBES: Dell's Report Card

Separately, Georges Plassat, the chief executive of French retail group Carrefour, has suggested further reductions in expenses as the group reported a narrowing in half-year losses.

BBC: Vivendi plans to cut jobs and costs amid price war

The Greek economy contracted 6.5% in the first quarter of 2012, whereas Carrefour's group-wide sales rose 0.9% to 22.5bn euros over the same period.

BBC: Retailer Carrefour to sell stake in Greek joint venture

Rounding out the top 10 were China Resources Vanguard, RT-Mart International, Chonqing General Trading Group, Carrefour China, Yum!

FORBES: Bailian Tops List Of China's Biggest Chain Stores; Walmart, Yum! Make The Top 10

France's Carrefour, Germany's Tengleman Group and Grand Union (once controlled by the British financier Sir James Goldsmith) among others, have attempted to invade the U.S. grocery market.

FORBES: The Anti-Wal-Mart

He drove the group's international expansion which transformed Carrefour into the main global rival to Wal-Mart.

ECONOMIST: Retailing: Changing shopkeepers | The

This year, the group is focusing on a joint venture with French supermarket company Carrefour to open "hypermarkets" in the coastal city of Tianjin.

CNN: MAINLAND MOVES

Meanwhile, Britain's Tesco supermarket group is boldly expanding into America and other foreign markets in a bid to overtake France's Carrefour (sorry, Monsieur l'Empereur) to become the world's second-biggest retailer behind Wal-Mart (see article).

ECONOMIST: British manufacturing