Retail giant Carrefour has unveiled an ambitious continental expansion plan aimed at positioning the company as Africa’s largest mass-market retailer by 2030, as it intensifies growth efforts under its new long-term strategy focused on scale, market penetration and profitability.
The Paris-headquartered group, a dominant player in France and several European markets, said it plans to establish operations in 22 African countries out of 45 priority territories identified in its global development roadmap within the next four years.
The company signalled it will retain its franchise-driven model across the continent, continuing to collaborate with regional partners rather than investing heavily in wholly owned outlets — an approach it has used for over two decades to limit capital exposure while accelerating expansion.
In January, Carrefour sealed a franchise and supply deal in Ethiopia with Queens Supermarket PLC, part of Midroc Investment Group, to convert 13 existing stores to the Carrefour brand in 2026 and launch 17 additional outlets by 2028.
The agreement followed a December 2025 arrangement in Ghana involving local distributor Brands For All to rebrand seven outlets previously run by Shoprite by April 2026.
The retailer’s expansion builds on longstanding alliances, including one with Majid Al Futtaim, which oversees Carrefour operations in Egypt, Kenya and Uganda, as well as partnerships with CFAO Retail spanning markets such as Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Cameroon and Senegal.
Additional franchise operators include Ulysse Hyper Distribution in Tunisia, Hyper Distribution Algérie in Algeria and Label’Vie in Morocco, bringing Carrefour’s African store network close to 700 outlets.
As the French retailer accelerates its push, analysts say it will face stiff competition from Shoprite, currently the continent’s largest grocery retailer with more than 3,400 stores and annual revenue exceeding $15.6 billion. However, Shoprite has scaled back operations outside Southern Africa in recent years, exiting markets such as Nigeria, Madagascar and Malawi while divesting businesses elsewhere to focus on core territories.
Industry watchers note that Carrefour’s franchise-led expansion strategy could allow it to move swiftly into markets vacated by rivals, particularly in West Africa, while keeping financial risk contained as it works toward its 2030 leadership ambition in Africa’s fast-growing consumer retail sector.
