Carrefour will enter India next year, the world's largest market with over 1.440 billion inhabitants.

The French retailer announced a franchise agreement with the Dubai-based Apparel Group to establish itself in this market. This partnership will initially focus on the northern part of the country, although expansion throughout the country is expected.

The first store openings under the Carrefour banner are planned for 2025, with the intention of including the capital, New Delhi, among its initial targets.

New countries

The French company is confident that its flexibility in adapting retail formats to different geographical and social contexts will allow it to attract customers from both traditional and modern stores.

“Carrefour’s arrival in India marks an important milestone in our strategy to expand our franchise to more than 10 new countries by 2026,” says Patrick Lasfargues, Executive Director of International Partnerships at Carrefour.

The Apparel Group has been established in India for years, where it operates 250 stores in over 35 cities. In total, it employs 24 people worldwide and has a network of 2.300 stores and more than 85 brands, with a strong presence in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain.