Selected aspects in internationalization of the internal trade in theoretical approaches and in empirical research in the Czech republic in the era of transformation

The aim of the article is to deal with the selected theoretical aspects of internationalization of trade, to outline its brief development and in relation to that to present partial results of empirical research in the era of transformation, and to tackle the selected aspects of internationalization of internal trade in the Czech Republic and expansion of retailing to the development of TOP 10 and TOP 50. Major factors that determine the market structure like conditions of costs, barriers in competi- tion and grey cooperation, are essential for the choice of target market, which is also relevant in the process of internationalization and which is oriented to globalization of the trade together with market domination, higher level of competition. It is connected with deregulation policies that allow free movement of capital and with the start of information and communication technologies that accelerate logistic processes and product sale. The previous era of centrally-planned economy facilitated after 1989 an entry of foreign chains to the Czech internal market. Foreign companies have taken advantage of the low costs conditions of entry as well as lower competition barriers. Promotion of developmental trends in trade repre- sent a high level of competition for the Czech trade from abroad, as well as not a simple position of domestic entrepreneurs, and also very difficult customer relations hip building. Internationalization of trade was in partial analyses interpreted by: direct foreign investments in trade, positions of foreign firms in TOP 10 and TOP 50. The research has confirmed a significant position of foreign companies in the Czech market. Foreign firms are still more and more dominant and they com- mand the Top 10 and have an important share within the biggest 50 business enterprises. The research has also pointed out the stabilization of domestic firms as well