Posted: Wednesday, July 1, 2009, 1:35 p.m., EDT

“The economy hasn’t been a losing proposition for everyone, and retailers who have made it through this recession will be well-positioned to grow in the future,” Susan Reda, executive editor of Stores Magazine, said in a statement. “As retailers shift their primary focus this year from expansion to core operations, companies who stay in tune with their customers will reap long-term rewards.”

Companies were ranked by annual revenues as reported in SEC filings, public statements and estimates from London-based research firm Planet Retail.

Walmart once again tops the list at No. 1, with revenue exceeding $405 billion in 2008. Kroger moved up two spaces to No. 2 with revenue of $76 million in 2008. Costco also moved up two spaces to snag the third spot on the list, with more than $72 million in revenue.

Rounding out the top five are The Home Depot (4) and Target (5), with revenues of about $71 million and $65 million, respectively. Both companies experienced a decrease in earnings in 2008, according to the list.

With about $5 million in revenue, pet specialty retailer Petsmart improved its rating from 72 to 70. The Phoenix-based company’s earnings dropped from $258,684 in 2007 to $192,670 in 2008, according to the list.

Stores Magazine is a publication of the National Retail Federation, a retail trade association based in Washington, D.C. The Top 100 Retailers 2009 list appears in the magazine’s July issue. <HOME>