(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-30 09:15

Sales at China's top 100 chain stores grew 21 percent to 1,002.2 billion yuan ($142.97 billion) last year, according to a report released by the China Chain Store and Franchise Association.

Related readings: China retail sales up 20% in 1st two months Retail sales surge to near high in November Gome finances acquisition of rival Dazhong

The sum amounted to about 11.23 percent of the country's consumer goods retail sales, which surged 17 percent to 8.9 trillion yuan, said the association's report released on Friday.

The top 100 chain stores had 105,191 outlets in 2007, an annual jump of 58 percent, the report said, attributing the growth to the rural market, where the number of outlets rocketed 145 percent to 52,000 in 2007.

Gome, China's biggest home appliance retailer, ranked first in the list with sales volume hitting 102.4 billion yuan, followed by Bailian Group, Suning Appliance, Huarun, Dashang and Vanguard with sales of 87.1 billion yuan, 85.5 billion yuan, 50.3 billion yuan and 50.2 billion yuan respectively.

The sales volume of 15 overseas chain stores in the list, including Wal-mart and Carrefour, rose 28 percent to 182.5 billion yuan, accounting for 18 percent of the total, while their outlets grew 3.7 percent to 3,956, said the report.