Carrefour Brasil said that its second-quarter adjusted net profit edged up 1.3% from a year earlier, citing solid sales despite inflation pressures.
The local unit of French retailer Carrefour SA reported profits of R$ 600 million (€110.5 million), helped by double-digit same-store sales growth.
Net sales rose 36% to R$ 24.0 billion (€4.42 billion), which included food retailer Grupo Big's results for June, when its acquisition by Carrefour Brasil was concluded. Carrefour's Atacadao wholesale division posted 30% growth in net sales.
'Solid Performance' In Food
The sales results were driven by a "solid performance in the food category, with volumes growing even in a highly inflationary environment," Stephane Maquaire, Carrefour Brasil's chief executive, said in the profit report.
The company's adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) grew by 24.5% to R$ 1.7 billion.
Operating expenses rose 28% from a year earlier to R$ 2.86 billion.
The retailer said food inflation since February has led to a change in shopping habits, with customers coming more often but buying fewer items and spending less on average during each visit.
Brazil has been facing persistently high inflation rate since the start of the year.
Carrefour Brasil said it has opened six new cash and carry format stores and four new convenience units, in addition to starting the integration process of Grupo Big, whose acquisition was valued at about $1.3 billion.
Read More: Carrefour Brasil Anticipates R$2bn In Synergies From Grupo Big Acquisition
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