Medium and Large Retail Enterprises: The Relevance and the Diffusion in Regional Economics

Medium and large retail enterprises have a relevant role in economic and management literature. Nevertheless, most studies on retail sector have been devoted to small and big companies, following a dualistic approach. This paper aims to identify the regional distribution of medium and large retail enterprises, their geographical retail network and the economic relevance in regional economics. In this way, it tries to verify if and how medium and large retail enterprises have been able to promote the modernisation of retail in the Italian regions. Methodologically, the paper is based on a quantitative research based on data containing information about the size of retail firms and the localisation of their stores. It shows that medium and large retail enterprises are mainly localized in Central and Northern Italy, influencing a relevant economic regional dualism. Although the study shows extra-regional expansion strategies, most of the firms come mainly from Northern Italy and the expansion direction is generally towards closer geographical areas.