Woolworths may be a significant presence locally, but it pales...

Woolworths may be a significant presence locally, but it pales in comparison to the global giants. Here's a list of the world's largest, featuring convenience store chains such as 7-Eleven.

7-Eleven: Boasting more than 46,000 outlets across 16 countries, 7-Eleven stands as the world's largest chain of grocery stores. It is headquartered in Japan, home to its largest number of outlets at 15,000, and in the USA, where it has 7,800 stores. Thailand hosts 6,800 of its outlets.

SPAR: Originating in Amsterdam, Netherlands, SPAR has expanded to over 13,500 locations in 35 countries, primarily serving the European market with stores in Austria, Japan, Czech Republic, Ukraine, the UK, France, Italy, Germany, and more.

Walmart: With its headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, USA, Walmart operates over 11,088 branches worldwide. Present in countries such as the USA, Chile, China, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, and Argentina, Walmart ranks as the world's largest company by revenue.

Aldi: Aldi, a prominent global discount retailer, has more than 10,366 stores in 18 countries. Based in Germany, it has significant presence in Belgium, Poland, Portugal, the UK, the USA, and Australia.

Carrefour: Carrefour S.A. is the fifth-largest supermarket chain globally, with over 10,103 outlets, including 1,400 hypermarkets, spread across various continents. Its headquarters is in France, and it has operations in Argentina, Turkey, Spain, India, China, and Brazil.

Lidl: Established in Germany, Lidl has grown to over 10,000 stores in 28 countries, focusing on the European market with locations in Austria, France, Switzerland, the UK, Spain, Italy, and beyond.