French retail giant Carrefour has decided its Greek stores should be run on a franchise basis.

The company has sold its stake in its Greek unit to joint venture partner Marinopoulos, which will now run the stores in the country.

The deal, announced today (June 15) will lead to a charge of EUR220m (US$277.6m) for the French retailer, which said the sale will allow the stores “to meet the challenges of Greece’s prevailing economic environment.”

Marinopoulos will now become the exclusive franchisee of Carrefour in Greece, in addition to Cyprus, Bulgaria, Albania and the Balkans, also part of the joint venture between the two companies, which was formed in 1999.

Carrefour said the Marinopoulos family “is firmly committed and they are best placed to ensure its management in the current context.”

Leonidas Marinopoulos, president of Marinopoulos, added: “This agreement gives Carrefour Marinopoulos the necessary means and flexibility to refine its business model, continue to serve its customers and consolidate its leading position in Greece. We reaffirm our commitment to the Greek and Cypriot markets alongside our employees and suppliers who have helped make Carrefour Marinopoulos the leading retail banner in Greece.”

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The transaction is expected to be completed in the coming weeks, subject to authorisation by the relevant antitrust authorities.