2026-01-15 14:14
publication
2026-01-15 14:14
The decision on the possible purchase of the Carrefour retail chain can only be made by the National Food Group, guided by economic calculations – informed the Ministry of State Assets in response to the letter of the National Council of Agricultural Chambers on this matter.
The farmers wanted the company to be included on the list of strategic companies of the State Treasury
The Ministry of Assets, which supervises the National Food Group, referred to the letter of the Management Board of the National Council of Agricultural Chambers of December 22, 2025, requesting the inclusion of the Group on the list of strategic companies of the State Treasury and regarding the purchase of the Carrefour retail chain.
“Referring to the suggestion contained in the president's (Wiktor Szmulewicz – PAP) letter regarding the purchase of the Carrefour food retail chain by KGS SA, I would like to kindly explain that all decisions regarding the management of the companies' affairs, including those related to initiating investment projects, are made by the management of the given entities, which bears full responsibility for them. It should be borne in mind that KGS SA, as a commercial law entity, must make the decision to engage in a capital investment based on economic calculations,” he wrote Deputy Minister at MAP, Grzegorz Wrona, in a letter made available on the Council's website.
He explained that “the Minister of State Assets, as part of the exercise of the powers resulting from the shares held by the State Treasury, is not able to directly influence the business activities of individual entities on an ongoing basis, nor to interfere in decisions made by their code bodies.”
Farmers on the Supervisory Board
Deputy Minister Wrona, referring to the request contained in the letter of the National Council of Chambers of Agriculture regarding the introduction of a provision specifying that 1/3 of the supervisory board of KGS SA should be held by persons related to agriculture, pointed out that the requirements for candidates for members were specified in the Act on the principles of management of state property of supervisory bodies. Additionally, in accordance with the Company's statute, the supervisory board of KGS SA consists of 9 to 12 members, where: 2 members are elected by employees of the company and all its subsidiaries and 2 members are elected by sugar beet growers who are bound by contractual agreements with the Company.
Similarly, the demand that the shares of Krajowa Grupa Spożywcza SA be sold to agricultural producers should also be assessed as fulfilled, Wrona noted. The Deputy Minister pointed out that it is reflected in the provisions of the Act of August 26, 1994 on ownership transformations in the sugar industry and the Company's statute, which specify, among others, that the company's shares may only be sold to the company's employees and sugar beet growers connected with the company by sugar beet contracting agreements.
Wrona further informed that Krajowa Grupa Spożywcza is already included in the list of strategic companies of the State Treasury.
The National Food Group declined to comment
KGS spokeswoman Dominika Cieślak told PAP on Thursday that “the company does not comment on acquisition processes; whether we participate in them or not.” She added that “if the company made such a decision corporately, with all consents and compliance with corporate governance, i.e. ownership consents, then such information will be provided.” The spokeswoman also noted that “this is a large transaction and would involve financing – it would require co-financing or recapitalization of the company.”
In mid-September, the media reported that the Carrefour group had opened the so-called data room in order to sell its 800 stores in Poland and 40 shopping centers.
At the end of November last year the Ministry of Agriculture sent a letter to MAP recommending the takeover of this network in connection with the announcement of its sale. “This is another step towards building our own supply chains, which will, on the one hand, strengthen the position of farmers and, on the other hand, will guarantee consumers easy access to high-quality products from Polish crops and farms,” the Ministry of Agriculture emphasized at the time.
The Carrefour Group, commenting on the recommendation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that it had started analyzing its business portfolio. “Due to the ongoing trial, we do not comment on market rumors on this subject,” she added.
At the beginning of December last year Wojciech Balczun, head of MAP, referring to the recommendation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding the takeover of the Polish chain of Carrefour stores by the National Food Group, announced that the Ministry of State Assets is focusing all its efforts on the renovation of KGS. “Formally, we have not received any offer, and we are focusing all our efforts on the renovation of KGS, because there is really a lot to do in the Group, especially in the area of financial results,” Balczun wrote then.
The National Food Group SA Capital Group has several subsidiaries in the following segments: grain and milling, sugar, potato starch, fruit and vegetables, confectionery, agriculture and seeds. The purpose of establishing the holding was to strengthen the position of the Polish farmer and protect against unfair practices on the part of large contractors, including distributors. 5,000 people worked at KGS in 2022. people. (PAP)
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