Carrefour Italia has signed two master franchising agreements with Apulia Distribuzione and Etruria Retail that will see the French retailer expand its presence in central and southern Italy.
The move facilitates the consolidation of the Carrefour Market and Carrefour Express networks in the Calabria, Basilicata and Puglia regions, as well as strengthen the French retailer’s presence in the Tuscany and Umbria regions.
As a result, on 1 January 2020, 546 new stores will be added to the 1,085 that comprise the current sales network of Carrefour Italia.
In detail, Carrefour will get 256 new stores in Puglia, Calabria and Basilicata, as well as another 290 in Tuscany and Umbria.
However, some of Etruria Retail’s franchised stores will maintain the La Bottega brand.
Purchasing Benefits
The two agreements pave the way for synergies at purchasing level, enabling Apulia Distribuzione and Etruria Retail to access the purchasing conditions of Carrefour Italia, and to distribute Carrefour branded products.
The agreements are also part of Carrefour's 2022 Transformation Plan, announced in early 2018. The French retailer is planning to invest €400 million in Italy, with an important focus on e-commerce and small and medium-sized stores.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
