Carrefour expands retail presence in French train stations
FRANCE – Carrefour has partnered with Lagardère Travel Retail to establish 150 stores in train stations across France over the next five years.
Carrefour CEO Alexandre Bompard announced the collaboration in a LinkedIn post, highlighting the initiative’s goal to provide travellers with easy access to fresh produce, private labels, organic products, and the company’s ‘Act for Food’ programme.
RetailDetail reported that the first outlets are expected to open by the end of the year, focusing on medium and large stations without nearby supermarkets.
These stores, ranging between 80 and 400 square metres, will operate under the Carrefour brand. Carrefour and Lagardère Travel Retail will also introduce the Potager City format, which specialises in fresh fruits and vegetables at affordable prices, alongside the self-service concept, Api.
Carrefour’s efforts in France have been paying off. New data from Kantar revealed that the retailer outperformed competitors in the French grocery market in December.
Carrefour’s value market share increased by 2.4 percentage points to 22% during the P13 period, driven by strong performance across its hypermarkets, online platforms, and local stores.
The company’s financial results reflect this growth. Carrefour reported an 8.8% rise in like-for-like (LFL) sales in the third quarter, reaching €23.98 billion (USD24.88 billion).
Carrefour-branded products played a significant role in this success, making up 36% of food sales during the quarter.
Carrefour has also been strengthening its foothold in Africa, particularly in Kenya. The company recently opened its 27th outlet at Rhapta Promenade Mall in Westlands, Nairobi. This expansion aims to improve customer convenience and provide opportunities for local businesses.
The opening of the new store will generate over 45 direct jobs, adding to Carrefour’s workforce in Kenya, which now exceeds 2,800 employees.
Carrefour sources 99% of its products from within Kenya, working with over 690 local farmers, small businesses, and manufacturers to support the local economy.
To enhance customer service, Carrefour has introduced a self-checkout system at its new Nairobi store. This feature, available in eight locations across Kenya, allows customers purchasing 15 items or fewer to complete their transactions efficiently.
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