Carrefour may soon say goodbye to Poland. According to several French newspapers, including the letterThe French retail giant has reportedly appointed JP Morgan to manage the sale of its operations in the country, which include approximately 800 stores and 40 shopping centers. A data room has already been opened to allow potential buyers to review the financial details.
The transaction is part of the strategy outlined by CEO Alexandre Bompard, which includes a review of mature markets no longer considered core, following the sale of over 1.000 stores in Italy. Carrefour Polska, established in 1997, confirmed to TVN that it has launched a strategic plan "in response to changing market conditions," but neither denied nor confirmed the rumors.
The French group is experiencing a difficult period in Poland: in 2024, sales fell 3,3% to €2,4 billion, the third consecutive year of decline, compared to 9,9% like-for-like growth globally. Competitive pressure from discounters has made it difficult to achieve adequate profit margins.
This isn't the first time rumors have surfaced about a possible exit from the market: in the past, there had been speculation of interest from Walmart, Amazon, and Ahold Delhaize, while in 2021, an attempted acquisition by Alimentation Couche-Tard was blocked by the French government.
In recent years, several international players, including Tesco, Piotr i Paweł, and Groupe Casino, have abandoned Poland. If the sale were confirmed, it would represent yet another withdrawal by a major international retailer from an increasingly competitive market dominated by local discounters.
