Last year, almost 37 per cent of managers employed by the Carrefour Group were female, an 8.9-per-cent increase since 2009, according to company.
Since it launched its Women Leaders programme in 2011, all of the countries in which the company operates have been committed to the cause, stepping up their initiatives to promote a better gender balance.
Carrefour has also introduced best practices in a bid to involve as many of its employees as possible.
In Europe, the number of women in senior managerial positions at the supermarket giant has increased significantly since 2011, accounting for 12 per cent of these roles in 2014.
Globally, Asia has witnessed the biggest increase in the numbers of women in managerial roles, where they currently account for nearly 39 per cent of all Carrefour managers on the continent.
Carrefour France and its executive committee are very much involved. In July 2014, they signed up to 15 commitments designed to promote a better work-life balance as part of a charter proposed by the Ministry for Women's Rights.
Also, Carrefour Market has introduced a number of initiatives in order to promote gender equality in recruitment, remuneration, training and promotion.
Italy, along with France and Argentina, has launched a programme involving 22 female senior managers who are invited to mentor other female employees regarding career opportunities. These employees are then coached and advised on professional development.
As a result of this practice, four countries (business units) have received the GEEIS (Gender Equality European International Standard) award this year: France (hypermarkets and supermarkets), Romania and Argentina.
This award has also been presented to Carrefour in recognition of the relevance of its best practices and its global Women Leaders initiative.
© 2015 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Story by Ciara Mooney.
