Accelerated, profitable, sustainable growth

The Carrefour group is currently engaged in a renewed drive for growth, first embarked upon in 2005. In France, for example, the group has been continually reclaiming market share since 2005, a situation not seen since the year 2000. These are just the first results from a profitable growth strategy designed for the long term. Our ambition for 2008-2010 is to accelerate growth.

Strengthening the group’s position in its key markets

In order to take on local and international competition from a position of strength, the group has set itself a clear, challenging strategic objective: to figure among the three leading players in each of the markets where it has a presence. Where it is unable to rapidly achieve this objective, it is not afraid to withdraw from the market: it pulled out of Japan and Mexico in 2005, of South Korea, Slovakia and the Czech Republic in 2006, of Switzerland and Portugal in 2007. While doing so, the group has recently strengthened its position by way of tactical acquisitions in Brazil, Poland and Spain.

Its growth strategy calls for a doubling in the rate of store openings, to further strengthen the group in markets where it is already well established. The group plans to open 1.2 million sq.m of surface area each year. This strategy of store openings will concentrate on key markets where the group aims to become a leading player, in China, Brazil, Indonesia, Turkey and Poland in particular. Since 2005, the group has seen its highest-ever rate of organic growth, with twice as many square meters of surface area created compared to 2001-2004.

The customer at the heart of it all

The Carrefour group puts its customers at the heart of everything it does. To this end, it has simplified its organization, giving more independence to store managers to enable them to adapt their business as closely as possible to the needs of their catchment area. Alongside this, the Carrefour group has expanded customer choice, adapted its store brand ranges and increased its service offering. New store concepts have been introduced to respond to evolutions in our customers’ lifestyles. For some years now, the group has also been strengthening its loyalty programs around the world to ensure that they reflect the latest consumer and social trends.