In an interview a LSA, Alexandre de Palmas, executive director of Carrefour France, defends the “hybrid” model adopted by the group, which combines franchising, location-gérance and direct management. A strategy that has been in place for years, but today more than ever at the center of the debate.
Carrefour’s transformation from a directly managed chain to a mixed model has gained momentum: 100% of its convenience stores are now franchised or location-gérance. Supermarkets are also 67% outsourced, while a third of hypermarkets have already been outsourced.
According to de Palmas, this system “brings the best of both worlds”: it guarantees economic efficiency, revitalization of struggling stores and sustainable growth. However, there is no shortage of criticism. The Carrefour Franchisés Association denounces penalizing contracts and unfavorable conditions, while the CFDT accuses the company of having circumvented a social plan, “discharging” about 27.000 workers.
Despite the accusations and a lawsuit coming to the court of Rennes, with the risk of a fine of 200 million euros, Carrefour defends the legitimacy of its model, never questioned by justice. For de Palmas, franchising remains today "more attractive than ever".
