Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Carrefour Plans Smaller Stores as India Expansion Broadens
Carrefour is a large French retailer that is expanding in India again.
It currently has a big hypermarket in Greater Noida with about 15,000 types of products.
The company plans to open more supermarkets before adding smaller stores.
These smaller stores would have fewer products and could serve cities outside India’s biggest urban centers.
Carrefour hopes to reach about 50 stores within two years, but the plan could change.
Apparel Group is investing in and operating the Indian business.
Carrefour is also considering online shopping and fast delivery.
It may eventually use India to make products for stores in other regions.
Carrefour plans to expand from large stores into smaller, limited-SKU outlets in Tier 2 and Tier 3 Indian cities.
The retailer has returned to India with a 50,000-square-foot hypermarket in Greater Noida, operated with Apparel Group.
Carrefour and Apparel Group are targeting about 50 stores over the next two years, subject to performance and possible acquisitions.
A 10,000-square-foot supermarket is expected in Ghaziabad within four weeks, followed by expansion across Delhi-NCR and Uttar Pradesh.
Carrefour is assessing e-commerce, quick commerce and India-based sourcing for its operations in the Gulf, Africa and potentially Europe.
- Who
- Carrefour and its Indian partner, Apparel Group, led by representatives Patrick Lasfargues and Nilesh Ved.
- What
- Carrefour is expanding its Indian store network and plans to add smaller, limited-SKU stores in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
- When
- Carrefour is targeting about 50 stores over the next two years, with smaller-city expansion potentially beginning after three to five years; its partnership with Apparel Group was signed in 2024.
- Where
- The expansion began in Greater Noida and is expected to continue across Ghaziabad, Delhi-NCR and Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- Carrefour sees India’s size and economic growth as attractive, while Apparel Group offers local expertise in consumers, real estate and retail operations.
- India return
- Carrefour returned with a 50,000-square-foot hypermarket in Greater Noida after exiting India in 2014.
- Current product range
- The Greater Noida store carries about 15,000 food and non-food SKUs.
- Store target
- The partners are targeting around 50 stores over the next two years.
- Next opening
- A 10,000-square-foot supermarket is expected to open in Ghaziabad within four weeks.
- Operating model
- Apparel Group invests in and operates the business, while Carrefour earns a percentage of turnover.
- Digital plans
- Carrefour is evaluating e-commerce and quick-commerce operations, potentially using stores or dedicated dark stores for fulfillment.
- Sourcing plans
- India-made private-label food and non-food products could eventually supply Carrefour operations in the Gulf, Africa and Europe.