Carrefour - food industry company news 
2012 - Supermarket battles to drive supplier M&A
6 February 2012
Some of the world's largest retailers struggled in 2011, which promises to mean even more intense competition in 2012. What could this mean for suppliers? Ultimately, it could mean the industry witnesses more consolidation this year.
Best bits: Food makers look ahead to another tough year
6 February 2012
2011 was a year of low consumer confidence, pressure from raw material costs and ever-increasing demands from retailers. This year is set to see more of the same.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
6 February 2012
The appointment of a new CEO at Carrefour caused a flurry of comment throughout the industry, with pundits outlining what the new chief's priorities ought to be. Unilever and Kellogg were among manufacturers that announced annual results, while Hain Celestial, reporting its half-year numbers, said it saw a number of acquisition targets in the US. Elsewhere, suppliers expressed anger at a decision in Europe to block the use of new nutrition claims.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
6 February 2012
Hershey and Unilever were among the major food manufacturers that this week were the first to report their 2011 financial results. Unilever's profits inched up 1% and CEO Paul Polman pointed to the performance of its home and personal care operations - casting some questions over the prospects of its food operations. In the retail sector, this week saw the long-speculated appointment of a new CEO at Carrefour and analysts expressed concern about the outlook for Ocado despite narrowing full-year losses.
2012 - Savvy shoppers, online key areas of retail focus
3 February 2012
In part two of our management briefing, Sam Webb talks to experts about the possible changes to the landscape of the food retail sector in 2012, amid power shifts, market volatility, evolving shopping trends and changing consumer habits.
On the move: Plassat faces Carrefour trial
31 January 2012
After a tumultuous three years at the helm of the world's second-largest grocery retailer, Carrefour chairman and CEO Lars Olofsson is set to be replaced by Georges Plassat.
FRANCE: Plassat replaces Olofsson in Carrefour top spot
30 January 2012
Retail giant Carrefour today (30 January) announced Georges Plassat will replace Lars Olofsson as chairman and CEO.
EUROPE: Wal-Mart "eyes Europe"
30 January 2012
Wal-Mart Stores, the world's largest retailer, is reportedly looking to gain a foothold in mainland Europe.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
27 January 2012
Carrefour again grabbed the headlines this week, with speculation intensifying that there could be change of leadership at the company. just-food understands an announcement is due in days. Elsewhere in retail, Asda outlined its expansion plans in the UK and we spoke to the CEO of Spar International about the symbol group's ambitions in India. Meanwhile, Premier Foods admitted more jobs could be lost at the company, we took a look at why US baker Hostess Brands filed for Chapter 11 and, in our latest Sustainability Watch, we discussed HJ Heinz's CSR strategy.
FRANCE: Carrefour to make CEO announcement in days
26 January 2012
An announcement on the role of CEO at global retail giant Carrefour is looming, according to just-food sources.
UAE: Carrefour franchisee Majid Al Futtaim outlines 2012 expansion plans
26 January 2012
Majid Al Futtaim, Carrefour's franchisee in the Middle East and north Africa, has revealed up to 45 stores will be opened under the French retailer's banner in 2012.
FRANCE: Carrefour embarks on price offensive
24 January 2012
Carrefour has launched a price-guarantee campaign in France as it looks to revitalise its struggling domestic sales.
Best bits: New year, still uncertainty at Carrefour
24 January 2012
Tesco executives may feel they have a lot on their plate but their "to do" list is not as long as that sitting in front of their counterparts across the English Channel at Carrefour.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
23 January 2012
Müller's decision to bid for UK milk supplier Robert Wiseman Dairies was the first major M&A move of 2012 and sparked plenty of debate, with industry watchers arguing the German yoghurt maker will face challenges in a fiercely competitive industry. Strikes at Unilever, job cuts at Kraft Foods and US dairy processor Dean Foods and continued gloom over the prospects of retail giant Carrefour also attracted headlines this week.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
23 January 2012
Executives at Müller and Robert Wiseman Dairies espoused the benefits of the German yoghurt maker's decision to buy the UK milk supplier, a deal that divided analysts. Industry watchers also scrutinised the latest trading updates from Premier Foods plc, the UK's largest food manufacturer and Carrefour, the French retail giant, while Kraft Foods chief Irene Rosenfeld said the US group's 2011 results means it is one of the industry's better performers - on the day job cuts of 1,600 were announced.
FRANCE: Carrefour brand director Blum leaves
20 January 2012
French retail giant Carrefour has confirmed that global brand director Laurent Blum has left the company.
FRANCE: Carrefour franchisee Guyenne et Gascogne sees sales worsen in Q4
20 January 2012
Carrefour franchisee Guyenne et Gascogne has reported a slide in sales in the fourth quarter of 2011.
UPDATE: FRANCE: Analysts gloomy on Carrefour prospects
19 January 2012
Analysts have issued a grim assessment of Carrefour's prospects after the retailer reported lower 2011 sales, confirmed its annual profits would slide and announced it would review its Planet hypermarket format.
FRANCE: Carrefour puts Planet hypermarkets under review
19 January 2012
Carrefour, the world's second-largest retailer, said today (19 January) it is reviewing its much-vaunted Planet hypermarket format.
FRANCE: Carrefour silent on renewed CEO speculation
18 January 2012
Carrefour, Europe's biggest retailer, is tight-lipped over renewed speculation that it has approached Georges Plassat to replace chief executive Lars Olofsson.
FRANCE: Sales growth, margin outlook boosts Casino shares
17 January 2012
Rising fourth-quarter sales and "reassuring" guidance on margins have helped buoy shares in French retail giant Casino.
BRAZIL: Food sales accelerate at retailer CBD
17 January 2012
CBD, Brazil's largest retailer, saw the growth in its food sales accelerate in the fourth quarter of 2011.
FRANCE: Carrefour sells 97 supermarket properties
3 January 2012
French retailer Carrefour has sold 97 domestic supermarket properties to an asset manager for EUR365m (US$476m).
The most-read comment articles on just-food in 2011
23 December 2011
Our comment pages in 2011 looked at Tesco's challenges in the US, the uncertainty that surrounded the country's largest dairy processor, Dean Foods, the disposals made by the UK's largest food manufacturer, Premier Foods plc, and the price war that developed between Australia's two largest retailers, Woolworths Ltd and Coles.
2011 in review - Retail giants battle consumer weakness, corporate turmoil
22 December 2011
A slump in consumer confidence and a turbulent year at a corporate level for some major retailers were defined 2011. Dean Best looks back at a tumultuous year for the world's major food retailers.
FRANCE: Critical Carrefour investor Knight Vinke "eyes board seat"
21 December 2011
US investment fund Knight Vinke is reportedly in talks with Carrefour over taking a seat on the retailer's board.
Street talk: Own label gives European shoppers more for less
20 December 2011
The economic downturn has seen private label, already more prevalent in Europe than in the US, make greater strides across almost every market in the region. SymphonyIRI's Rod Street, pointing to the just-food international basket, launched today, says the price difference between own label and brand is 50% in some markets. Brand owners must act quickly, Street says, to work out where and how to defend their share.
In the spotlight: Cloetta and Leaf merger lauded by analysts
19 December 2011
"This transaction makes industrial and strategic sense." So said Leaf International CEO Bengt Baron when on Friday he announced the Swedish confectioner's plans to merge with local rival Cloetta. The initial reaction from analysts is much the same. As Sam Webb reports, industry watchers believe the combined company will benefit from the increased number of markets in which it operates and a greater ability to deal with volatile commodity costs.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
19 December 2011
Industry watchers have forecast further consolidation in the confectionery sector but there has been an absence of major deals in 2011 - until today, when Scandinavian candy makers Cloetta and Leaf International announced plans to merge. Elsewhere in Europe this week, Carrefour tabled a bid to buy French franchise partner Guyenne et Gascogne. Findus Group's French operations, meanwhile, grabbed the headlines with news that private-equity owner Lion Capital ended talks to sell the business to rival buy-out house Permira. And Diamond Foods' deal to buy snacks brand Pringles looks uncertain amid news that the SEC is to investigate crop payments made at the company.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
19 December 2011
This week, Swedish confectionery companies Cloetta and Leaf International revealed plans to merge. Elsewhere, Carrefour announced plans to buy its French retail franchise partner Guyenne et Gascogne and on this side of the Channel, Premier Foods sold off another division, this time in Ireland to The Boyne Valley Group.
Related research
Carrefour S.A. (CA) - Financial and Strategic SWOT Analysis Review
This comprehensive SWOT profile of Carrefour S.A. provides you an in-depth strategic SWOT analysis of the company’s businesses and operations. The profile has been compiled by GlobalData to bring to you a clear and an unbiased view of the company’s key strengths and weaknesses and the potential opportunities and threats. The profile helps you formulate strategies that augment your business by enabling you to understand your partners, customers and competitors better.
Carrefour S.A. - SWOT Analysis
Datamonitor's Carrefour S.A. - SWOT Analysis company profile is the essential source for top-level company data and information. Carrefour S.A. - SWOT Analysis examines the company’s key business structure and operations, history and products, and provides summary analysis of its key revenue lines and strategy.Carrefour SA (Carrefour or "the group") is the world's second largest and Europe's largest retailer of groceries and consumer goods. The group operates more than 15,000 stores (both company-operated or franchises) through four main grocery store formats: hypermarkets; supermarkets; hard discount and convenience stores. Carrefour operates in Europe, Latin America and Asia. The group is headquartered in Levallois Perret Cedex, France and employs more than 475,976 people. The group recorded revenues of $85,963 million ($119,886.6 million) during the financial year ended December 2009 (FY2009), a decrease of 1.2% compared to 2008. The operating profit of the group was $1,705 million ($2,377.8 million) in FY2009, a decrease of 38.9% compared to 2008. The net profit was $327 million ($456 million) in FY2009, a decrease of 74.2% compared to 2008.
Carrefour S.A. - SWOT Analysis
Carrefour S.A. - SWOT Analysis company profile is the essential source for top-level company data and information. Carrefour S.A. - SWOT Analysis examines the company’s key business structure and operations, history and products, and provides summary analysis of its key revenue lines and strategy.Carrefour (or "the group") is the world's second largest and Europe's largest retailer of groceries and consumer goods. The group operates more than 15,000 stores (both company-operated or franchises) through four main grocery store formats: hypermarkets, supermarkets, cash & carry, and convenience stores. Carrefour operates in Europe, Latin America and Asia. The group is headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt Cedex, France, and employs 471,775 people. The group recorded revenues of E90,099 million (approximately $119,606.4 million) during the financial year ended December 2010 (FY2010), an increase of 5.5% over FY2009. The operating profit of the group was E2,972 million (approximately $3,945.3 million) in FY2010, an increase of 9.3% over FY2009. The net profit was E433 million (approximately $574.8 million) in FY2010, an increase of 56.9% over FY2009.
