Carrefour S.A. (French pronunciation: [kaʁfuʁ]) is an international hypermarket chain headquartered in Boulogne Billancourt, France, in Greater Paris.^[2] It is one of the largest hypermarket chains in the world (with 1,395 hypermarkets at the end of 2009, the second largest retail group in the world in terms of revenue and third largest in profit after Wal-Mart and Tesco). Carrefour operates mainly in Europe, Argentina, Brazil, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, but also has shops in North Africa and other parts of Asia, with most stores being of smaller size than hypermarket or even supermarket. Carrefour means "crossroads" in French. Previously the company head office was in Levallois-Perret, also in Greater Paris.^[3]

History[link]

The first Carrefour store opened on 1 January 1958 in suburban Annecy near a crossroads (carrefour in French). The group was created by Marcel Fournier, Denis Defforey and Jacques Defforey and grew into a chain from this first sales outlet. In 1995 it merged with Promodès, known as Continent, one of its major competitors in the French market.

Marcel Fournier, Denis Defforey and Jacques Defforey had attended several seminars in the United States led by "the Pope of modern distribution" Bernardo Trujillo, who influenced other famous French executives like Édouard Leclerc (E.Leclerc), Gérard Mulliez (Auchan), Paul Dubrule (Accor), and Gérard Pélisson (Accor). Their slogan was "No parking, no business".

The Carrefour group was the first in Europe to open a hypermarket, a large supermarket and a department store under the same roof. They opened their first hypermarket on 15 June 1963 in Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, near Paris in France.^[4]

In April 1976, Carrefour launched a private label Produits libres (free products – libre meaning free in the sense of liberty as opposed to gratis) line of fifty foodstuffs, including oil, biscuits (crackers and cookies), milk, and pasta, sold in unbranded white packages at substantially lower prices.

In September 2009, Carrefour updated its logo.^[5]

In May 2011, Carrefour reviewed its situation under conditions of stagnant growth and increasing competition in France from rivals including Casino Guichard-Perrachon SA, and planned to invest €1.5 billion ($2.1 billion) to change the supermarket with the new concept of Carrefour Planet in Western Europe.^[6]

Slogans[link]

• Hypermarkets: "Choice and quality for everyone"
• Hypermarkets: "Está bueno para vos" and "Los precios más bajos, siempre" (Argentina), it means "It's good for you" and "Always the lowest prices" respectively.
• Hypermarkets: "Ninguém faz melhor que o primeiro" (Brazil), meaning "Nobody does better than the first", referring to the fact that Carrefour is the world's first hypermarket and also Brazil's first hypermarket and to other Carrefour firsts, such as the "Lowest price or the difference back" policy.
• Hypermarkets: "Carrefour, chévere!" (Colombia), it means "Carrefour, nice!".
• Hypermarkets: "Life, the way I want it"(Singapore)
• Hypermarkets: "Untuk hidup yang lebih baik" (Indonesia), it means "For a better life"
• Hypermarkets: "Pentru o viaţă mai bună" (Romania), it means "For a better life"
• Supermarkets: "The prices people want, close to home"
• Hard Discount: "Grocery products at low, low prices"
• Convenience Stores: "Just what you need, right next door"
• Cash & Carry: "Proximity and accessibility for catering professionals"
• Hypermarkets, Cash & Carry: "Καθε μέρα για σένα"(Cyprus) means "Every day, for you"
• Hypermarkets: "Pozytywnie każdego dnia" (Poland), it means "Positively every day"

French operations[link]

The chain's Carrefour Hypermarket division has its head office in Courcouronnes, Essonne, France, near Évry.^[7]

International operations[link]

Albania[link]

In November 2011, Carrefour opened its first store in Albania as part of TEG Shopping Center (Tirana East Gate) with the same rights as in the European Union and throughout the rest of Europe. Carrefour is integrated in the new shopping center in the same format as in other countries extending into a space of about 7000 square meters. Carrefour will have a policy of supplying imported products while promoting Albanian products, particularly agro-industrial ones.

Algeria[link]

Austria[link]

In 1976 Carrefour opened a store in the Shopping City Süd at the southern edge of Vienna. Due to limited success the store closed soon after. Courrefour has not made any other attempt at entering the Austrian market thereafter.

Belgium[link]

Bulgaria[link]

From 2009 to 2011 in Bulgaria are opened five hypermarkets resided in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas and Ruse.

In 2010, Carrefour and Marinopoulos Group, the largest group of retail in Greece, established a franchise company MSC Bulgaria to develop hypermarkets and supermarkets under the Carrefour banner on the Balkans.

Brazil[link]

Carrefour in Brazil was founded in 1975 and today it is one of the major super markets of Brazil in competition with Extra, Wal-Mart, Pão de Açucar and others and now sell more than 25 million products per year.

Bahrain[link]

Carrefour has also opened a franchise owned branch in the Bahrain City Centre in 2008.

China[link]

In 2007, expansion accelerated outside France, particularly in Asia, with the building of 36 new hypermarkets, including 22 in China – where the Group broke its record for store openings in a one-year period. It was the leading foreign retailer in terms of sales figures, until 2008 and has since lost its No. 1 position to RT-mart.

78th store of Carrefour China – ZhongShanPark, Shanghai, open 6 June 2006.

Egypt[link]

Carrefour has 10 outlets under franchise in Egypt, which are often situated in shopping malls and frequented by the Egyptian upper class. The location in Alexandria was severely looted during the Egyptian Revolution of 2011. Another 8 outlets or more are coming in 2012/2013. Opened Hyper Markets: (Maadi City Center, Dadny Mega Mall, Sun City Mall, Obour Golf City Mall, Alex City Center). Opened Express Markets: (Maadi, Tiba Mall, Sharm-El-Sheik, Green Plaza Mall, Down Town Mall). Coming Hyper Markets: (Alex West, CFC, Shorouq, Capital Mall). Coming Express Markets: (Royal Plaza Mall, Dolphin Mall, Zezenya Mall, Alsaraya Mall).

Georgia[link]

Carrefour has planned to open its first store in Georgia by July 15, 2012. It will be opened in Tbilisi Mall (newly opened shopping mall in the northern exit of Tbilisi). It will occupy approx. 12000 sq m. Selection of staff has already finished.

Germany[link]

Morocco[link]

Carrefour has 10 hypermarkets in Morocco, with the most being located in and around the Casablanca metropolitan area. Carrefour Maroc is a partner of Label'vie, a Moroccan supermarket chain. All the Label'Vie stores are transformed into Carrefour Markets. There are 30 of them widely spread around the kingdom. Carrefour is still expanding its presence in Morocco by opening more supermarkets and hypermarkets to face the settled competition like the Moroccan-French hypermarket chain Marjane.

India[link]

The new store, Carrefour Wholesale Cash&Carry in New Delhi is spread across 5,200 square meter and will house over 10,000 stock-keeping units to cater to professional businesses, institutions, restaurants and local retailers.

Carrefour opened up its second Wholesale Cash&Carry in Jaipur. The store in Jaipur is almost the same size as Delhi. Carrefour is also planning an entry into Agra and Meerut.^[8]

Since the FDI policy in India does not allow foreign companies to open multi-brand retail stores in the country, global retailers have opted for the cash-and-carry route to establish their presence here.

Indonesia[link]

Besides Carrefour stores, at the end of November 2011 Carrefour also has 5,670 Alfamart (IDX=AMRT) which mostly minimart, while at the end of December 2010 has 4,812 Alfamart.^[9]

Iran[link]

In February 2009, Carrefour opened its first store in Iran in Western region of Tehran. It opened its second store in Iran in April 2012. this store located in Shiraz. Four other stores are to be opened in Isfahan (2012), Eastern region of Tehran, Mashhad and Tabriz.

Iraq[link]

Carrefour is to open 5 stores in Iraq in the city of Erbil in 2011.

Jordan[link]

Carrefour also operates in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan in a joint venture with Majid al Futtaim.^[10]

Kuwait[link]

In March 2007, Carrefour opened a store in Kuwait in the Avenues mall.

Taiwan[link]

In 1989, Carrefour became the first international retailer to establish a presence in Asia when it entered Taiwan through a joint venture with Uni President Enterprises Corporation. It leveraged the experience it gathered in Taiwan to expand into other Asian markets.

Saudi Arabia[link]

Carrefour also has 11 franchise operated hypermarkets in Saudi Arabia, with 5 of them being in the capital Riyadh itself.

Oman[link]

In Oman, Carrefour opened a store in 2001 on the outskirts of the city of Muscat. And in 2008, another branch opened in Qurum. In May 2011 Carrefour opened a store in Sohar City (220 KM from Muscat). The fourth Carrefour opens in March 2012 in Muscat Grand Mall.

Pakistan[link]

Carrefour opened up its first store in Lahore, Pakistan in a joint venture with MAF in 2009 under the name of Hyperstar, and a second store in Karachi in 2011, with a third store under construction in the city.

Portugal[link]

In Portugal, Carrefour retail sold their stake in Continente Modelo to Sonae for €345 million on 16 November 2004.^[11]

In 2008, Carrefour sold its Portuguese retail ventures existing under the Carrefour ensign to Sonae.

United Arab Emirates[link]

Carrefour also operates in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan in a joint venture with Majid al Futtaim.^[10]

United Kingdom[link]

Carrefour had several hypermarkets in the UK until the 1980s. They were located in Leyland,^[12] Caerphilly (Mid Glamorgan), Merry Hill in Dudley, Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham), Glasshoughton (near Castleford), Eastleigh (near Southampton), MetroCentre in Gateshead, Telford Shopping Centre (Shropshire), Boroughbridge (North Yorkshire), Swindon and Cribbs Causeway in Bristol. All stores were later acquired by the Dee Corporation, but continued to trade as Carrefour for some time before being converted to Gateway Superstores. Some of the old Carrefour stores in the UK are now branches of Asda, for example the Merry Hill store which opened on 1 July 1986 but was converted into a Gateway in 1988 and since 1990 has traded as an Asda.^[13]

As of 14 July 2011, a range of Carrefour's products are sold in the UK via Ocado.^[14]

Previous Operations[link]

In 2006, Carrefour decided to sell all 16 stores in Korea to E-Land and exited their business in Korea. In 2010, Carrefour decided to leave Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. However, in November 2010, Carrefour decided to sell its Thailand operations, but the Malaysian and Singaporean operation, will retain.^[15]

Africa[link]

Carrefour has left Algeria in 2009, and opened in Morocco.

Europe[link]

Carrefour has 161 hypermarkets in Spain, is the second most important country of the Carrefour's group, also they have around 2000 supermarkets

On 15 October 2009, Carrefour announced plans to sell its Russian business, citing "absence of sufficient organic growth and acquisition opportunities".^[17]

Americas[link]

• Carrefour has a presence in four countries in the Americas: Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic. Carrefour is active in three types of retail distribution: hypermarkets, supermarkets and hard discounters, and entered the Cash & Carry market in Brazil, after the purchase of Atacadão.^[18] Carrefour was also active in Mexico between 1995 and 2005, when the 29 hypermarkets opened at the moment were sold to Chedraui.

Store brands[link]

8 à Huit store in Étretat

Hypermarkets

Carrefour, Atacadão, Hyperstar.

Supermarkets

Carrefour Bairro, Carrefour Express, Carrefour Market (Formerly Champion as of 2008), Champion Mapinomovaoe, Globi, GB, GS^{[disambiguation needed ]}, Carrefour Cafe, Carrefour mini, Gima.

Hard discount stores

Dia, Ed, Minipreço.

Convenience stores

Carrefour City, 5 minutes, 8 à Huit, Marche Plus, Proxi (supermarket), Sherpa, Dìperdì, Smile Market, Ok!, Express, Shopi (supermarket).

Cash & Carry

Carrefour Contact, Promocash, Docks Market, Gross IPer.

Carrefour City, Paris

Criticism and controversies[link]

The Carrefour supermarket at Faa'a, Tahiti, French Polynesia

On 1 May 2007, more than 30 employees of the now closed Carrefour Ratu Plaza, Jakarta, Indonesia, were taken to the Central Pertamina Hospital (Rumah Sakit Pusat Pertamina), after being poisoned by CO2. The hypermarket was located on the mall's basement, which offered insufficient ventilation.^[19]

On 26 June 2007, the company was convicted in a French court for false advertising. The suit alleged that Carrefour regularly stocked insufficient quantities of advertised products for sale. In addition, the company was convicted of selling products below cost and accepting kickbacks from wholesalers. Carrefour was ordered to pay a fine of €2 million and to prominently and legibly display a notice in all of its French stores disclosing the false advertising.^[20]

In Carrefour Mangga Dua Square, Jakarta, Indonesia, a 5-metre high metal rack fell on top of a 3-year old boy, killing him almost instantly due to internal bleeding.^[when?][21] Afterwards, the victim's family claimed that Carrefour has refused to meet with them to settle the case.^[22] However, Carrefour Corporate Affairs Officer denied this allegation^[23]

Carrefour has also received criticism for engaging in sweatshop practices.^[24]

On 7 May 2009, the French government asked a tribunal to fine Carrefour some €220,000 for more than 2,500 violations. Meat products lacked proper tracking information (more than 25% of inventory at some locations), and some products had incorrect labels – such as meat products that "shrank" in weight by 15% after receiving labels. The chain sold products that had long since passed their expiration dates, including, in one case, packs of baby formula that had expired six months earlier. Some 1,625 frozen and refrigerated products were found that had been stored in warehouses at ambient temperature.^[25]

Boycott of supplies in China[link]

In April 2008, after the 2008 Olympic torch relay was disrupted by Tibetan independence advocates in London and especially Paris, where some protesters attempted to wrest control of the torch from torch bearers, Chinese activists have promoted boycotting Carrefour because of its French roots.^[26] The boycott of Carrefour in particular was further fueled by unsubstantiated rumours that a major shareholder, Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton, had donated to the Dalai Lama. In its response, Carrefour China stated that it does support the Beijing Olympics; and that they will never do anything to harm the feelings of Chinese people.^[27] Protests occurred in and around a number of Carrefour outlets throughout China, and anti-Carrefour advocates campaigned for a one-day boycott of Carrefour on May Day, a public holiday in China.

As a result of the boycott, Chinese search engines Baidu.com.cn and sina.com blocked access to Carrefour's website in China for a short time. Users searching Carrefour in China, were sent an error page indicating "The search result may contain illegal content, so we can not display the result." in Chinese.^[28]

Former stores[link]

Former Carrefour store in Minoh City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan

Former Carrefour store in Bangkok, Thailand

Carrefour Munro, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Previous branch of Carrefour in Niterói, Brazil (will be replaced by a Atacadão branch)

• Chile ― In 2004, Carrefour sold its 8 hypermarkets in Chile to D&S;
• Czech Republic – In September 2005, Carrefour sold to Tesco (the biggest UK retailer) 11 stores in the Czech Republic. Tesco paid €57.4 million as well as its stores in Taiwan. Carrefour had opened its first store in 1998 in the Czech Republic. The stores use the Tesco name and brand now;
• Hong Kong – On 18 September 2000,^[29][30] Carrefour closed its stores in Hong Kong after complaints from manufacturers about selling products (especially electronics) at prices far below those of its competitors.^{[31][citation needed]} A company spokesman said at that time that the closures were due to "difficulties in finding sites suitable for developing its hypermarket concept and quickly acquiring a significant market share". Carrefour had entered the Hong Kong market in December 1996 with a store in Heng Fa Chuen and had later added stores in Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. Plans to open additional stores in Ma On Shan and Tseung Kwan O had been cancelled.^[30]
• Japan – In 2005, Carrefour sold its 8 hypermarkets to AEON Group;
• Mexico – In March 2005, Carrefour sold its 29 hypermarkets in Mexico to Chedraui. Carrefour had opened its first store in 1995 in Mexico, However, there were rumors he returned Mexico trough Comercial Mexicana stores;
• Portugal – Carrefour entered Portugal by buying its first stores in 1991 – two Euromaché hypermarkets, in Telheiras (a Lisbon neighbourhood) and Vila Nova de Gaia (suburbs of Porto); This chain was known to have very good quality products, mainly from French origin, when in July 2007 Carrefour sold all of its 12 hypermarkets and 9 fuel stations to Sonae for €662 million. Also included were 11 licenses for opening new commercial spaces. Nowadays only the 365 hard-discount supermarkets (Minipreço) are supported by Carrefour in this country, not included in the takeover.
• Russia – Carrefour entered Russian market in Summer of 2009. In October 2009, only a month after it opened its second hypermarket in the country, Carrefour announced it was exiting Russia.
• South Korea – In 2006, Carrefour sold its 32 hypermarkets to E-Land. The stores have been re-branded as Homever.
• Switzerland – In August 2007 Carrefour sold its 12 hypermarkets in Switzerland to Swiss retailer Coop for $390 million;^[32]
• Thailand – Carrefour's business in Thailand was sold to Big C Supercenter Public Company Limited, the owner of Big C hypermarket stores in Thailand. The transaction is completed in March 2011, with the Suwintawong branch being the first changed brand store from Carrefour to Big C.^[33] Carrefour entered the Thai market in 1996.
• United Kingdom – Carrefour had several hypermarkets in the UK until the end of the 1980s. The first of these was opened in the early 1970s in Caerphilly, South Wales. Subsequent outlets were opened at Merry Hill, Dudley; Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham; Glasshoughton (near Castleford); Eastleigh, Hampshire; MetroCentre (Gateshead); Telford Shopping Centre, Shropshire; Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire; Swindon and Cribbs Causeway in Bristol. All stores were later acquired by the Dee Corporation, but continued to trade as Carrefour for some time before being converted to Gateway Superstores. Today many of the old Carrefour stores in the UK are branches of Asda, notably the branch at the Merry Hill store in the West Midlands; it had opened in July 1986 as one of the complex's first tenants, only to become a Gateway when Carrefour pulled out of Britain in 1988; it became an Asda in 1990 when Gateway withdrew from Merry Hill. In 2011, they returned to the UK market via a supply deal with Ocado.^[14]
• United States – Carrefour opened hypermarkets in Philadelphia and Voorhees Township, New Jersey, in 1988 and 1992 respectively. Both stores closed in 1994. Some associates wore roller skates to facilitate moving about the large building. The Voorhees location now houses a Kohl's department store, a Raymour & Flanigan furniture store, and a Marshalls discount clothing store. The Philadelphia location (within the Franklin Mills Mall complex) houses a few stores, including a Walmart, which will close and move to the main Franklin Mills complex later in 2011, and Dick's Sporting Goods.