The international divestment activities of European grocery retailers

Citation

Burt S, Dawson J & Sparks L (2004) The international divestment activities of European grocery retailers. European Management Journal, 22 (5), pp. 483-492. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2004.09.007

Abstract
Internationalisation by retailers is a major corporate strategy and has become a substantive research focus for retail academics in Europe. The majority of research has concentrated on the expansionist dimensions of this activity. Only recently has attention turned to the role and importance of divestment and exit within the internationalisation process. Drawing on a database recording international activity by European based grocery retailers over the past fifty years, this paper aims to establish the general characteristics and patterns of divestment activity in this sector. Over 270 divestment activities have been identified. The geographical, temporal, entry mode and format related dimensions of this activity are explored.

Keywords
International divestment; Grocery retailing; Europe; International strategy

Journal
European Management Journal: Volume 22, Issue 5