Carrefour to Sell Italian Business, Invest in Relaunch

Carrefour has agreed to sell its loss-making Italian operations, comprising over 1,000 stores, to NewPrinces Group for approximately €1 billion, with the deal expected to close by the end of 2025 pending regulatory approval. As part of the transaction, Carrefour will reinvest €237.5 million to help relaunch its Italian business, while NewPrinces has committed €200 million for development and brand renewal. The acquisition will make NewPrinces Italy's second-largest food group by turnover and the largest by employment. Italian trade unions have declared a strike and requested government intervention over concerns about workers' futures and the proposed recovery plan. Carrefour has also reported a 4.4% increase in like-for-like sales in the second quarter of 2025, particularly in France, Spain, and Brazil, reaffirming its financial targets for the year. Despite the Italian divestment, Carrefour's European operations are showing signs of recovery, though operating margins remain under pressure.