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    Carrefour
    retail, mass-market retailing, e-commerce

    Carrefour

    Belgium flagBelgium
    Founded November 30, 1959 Massy, France CEO: Alexandre Bompard
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    About

    Carrefour began in Annecy, France, on November 30, 1959, as a partnership between the Fournier and Defforey families. The company reshaped European retail in 1963 when it opened its first hypermarket in Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, a 2,500 square meter store with 400 parking spaces that combined a supermarket and department store under one roof, emphasizing self-service and low prices. This format spread quickly: Carrefour entered Spain in 1973, Brazil in 1975, and Argentina in 1982, building a global network. The 1999 merger with Promodès added the Carrefour Market supermarket chain and strengthened its convenience store presence.

    As of 2024, Carrefour operates more than 14,000 stores across over 30 countries, with a strong footprint in Europe, Latin America, and Taiwan. Its store formats range from hypermarkets and supermarkets to hard discount (Carrefour Bio), convenience (Carrefour City, Carrefour Express), and cash-and-carry (Promocash). The company employs about 320,000 people and reported €94.5 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2024, with a net profit of €1.9 billion. Its private-label portfolio, including Carrefour Classic, Carrefour Bio, Carrefour Selection, and Carrefour Discount, accounts for a significant share of sales. The e-commerce platform Carrefour.fr offers home delivery and click-and-collect, and the company has partnered with Amazon in France for non-food items and with Google for voice shopping and AI integration.

    Recent strategic moves include exiting Asia entirely, with the sale of its Taiwan operations to Uni-President Enterprises for €1.1 billion in 2024, and a focus on digital transformation and cost reduction under Chairman and CEO Alexandre Bompard, who took the helm in 2017. The company aims for private labels to represent 40% of sales by 2026 and has committed to 100% recyclable packaging by 2025. Carrefour has faced controversies, including tax avoidance allegations in Europe, disputes with French farmers over pricing, and a €1 million fine in 2023 for misleading price promotions.

    Products & Sub-brands

    Carrefour ClassicCarrefour BioCarrefour SelectionCarrefour DiscountCarrefour BanqueCarrefour CityCarrefour ExpressCarrefour MarketCarrefour ContactPromocash

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Who owns Carrefour?
    Carrefour is a publicly traded company on Euronext Paris. Its largest shareholders include the French public investment bank Bpifrance (about 10% ownership), the Moulin family (descendants of the founders), and various institutional investment funds.
    Who is the CEO of Carrefour?
    The Chairman and CEO is Alexandre Bompard, who has held the position since July 2017. He previously led Fnac Darty and has driven Carrefour's digital transformation and cost-cutting strategies.
    How much is Carrefour worth?
    As of mid-2025, Carrefour's market capitalization is about €12 billion ($13 billion USD), with an enterprise value of around €20 billion including debt. The company generated €94.5 billion in revenue in 2024.
    Carrefour vs. E.Leclerc: which is cheaper?
    E.Leclerc is generally considered cheaper in France due to its cooperative model with lower overheads. Carrefour matches prices on many items and offers a wider selection of private-label and premium products.
    Is Carrefour still in business?
    Yes, Carrefour is the largest retailer in Europe with over 14,000 stores in more than 30 countries. It is profitable and actively expanding its e-commerce and private-label operations.

    Keywords

    retailhypermarketsupermarketFranceEuropeprivate labele-commerceCarrefourgroceries

    Company Info

    Founded
    November 30, 1959
    Founder
    Marcel Fournier, Denis Defforey
    CEO
    Alexandre Bompard
    Headquarters
    Massy, France
    Industry
    retail, mass-market retailing, e-commerce
    Revenue
    €94.5 billion (2024)
    Employees
    320000
    Number of stores
    14,000+
    Countries present
    30+
    Revenue (2024)
    €94.5 billion
    Net profit (2024)
    €1.9 billion

    Official Website

    www.carrefour.fr

    Links

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