Définition
A retail network means a set of sales outlets and a network head company, which maintain lasting relationships and establish common interest.
Most retail networks develop a store brand-name, but some restrict themselves to membership of a trading group or a referencing group without the sales outlets being required to use a brand-name.
The "network head company" coordinates certain activities. It may be a trading or referencing group, a franchiser, headquarters, or an industrial firm that has developed a distribution channel.