Germany is entering the game for Carrefour's assets. In the background, sales of Polish stores
French retail giant Carrefour is starting to organize its assets in Europe. The first decisions are made in Belgium, but Poland remains in the background, where the future of the network's assets is also in question.
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The investor is considering purchasing in cooperation with the local management board, without dividing the company.
However, the interest is not large, and Aurelius itself already has experience in this market – in 2024, it took over part of the What's Cooking business, and earlier it bought The Body Shop, which declared bankruptcy in some countries.
Carrefour's strategy: fewer markets, more concentration
Activities in Belgium are part of the group's broader strategy. Carrefour wants to focus on three key markets: France, Spain and Brazil, which account for approximately 85 percent. revenues and almost the entire operating result.
Other countries – incl Poland, Belgium and Argentina were placed in the “other” category. This means that various scenarios are analyzed for these markets, from further development to the sale of part or all of the business.
Who can take over Carrefour's assets in Poland?
Carrefour has been operating in Poland since the 1990s and is still one of the largest players, but its position has weakened in recent years. At the end of 2025, the chain had 737 stores, including 94 hypermarkets, 142 supermarkets and 495 convenience stores.
Last year, there were a net 46 store closures, and comparable sales declined 1.7%. The market is dominated by discount stores, primarily Biedronka and Lidl, which successfully attract customers.
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There are no specific offers yet, but there is interest. The head of Biedronka, Luis Araujo, admitted that the company does not comment on potential transactions at an early stage, although Carrefour's franchise assets could be interesting. — taking into account regulatory constraints.
On the other hand Żabka approaches the topic with some distance. Its president, Tomasz Suchański, assessed that possible ownership changes should not significantly affect the market in the medium term.
It is also mentioned among potential investors Ukrainian Fozzy Group, which is already testing the Polish market. Takeover however, it was excluded by the National Food Group — according to the Deputy Minister of State Assets, Grzegorz Wrona, this is not an attractive business opportunity.
