Profit margins for the large food retailing groups rarely rise above 5 per cent.

Food retailing generally weathers such circumstances better than most sectors, as consumers do not stop spending on food.

The chain are looking for people who have the right attitude and enthusiasm for food retailing, ability to learn and ambition.

Today it employs 440,000 people across a range of industries including real estate, food retailing, luxury hotels, financial service, mining, motor vehicles and agribusiness.

A late move into convenience stores - the fastest-growing segment of food retailing - also came at a price.

Online retailing has seen an army of entrepreneurs enter the market over the past few years.

But supplying high street chains became a grind, so in 2006 the pair decided to try their hand at online retailing.

In total the company, which spans online retailing, music and video streaming and digital advertising, generated revenues of $233billion and operating earnings of $12.4 billion last year.

The recession and the rise of online retailing have combined to shake customer loyalty.

The explosion in online retailing has driven growth at this delivery business.