Quarterlytics / Consumer Defensive / Grocery Stores / Carrefour S.A. / FY2012 Annual Report

Carrefour S.A.
Annual Report 2012

CRERF · OTC Consumer Defensive
Claim this profile
Ticker CRERF
Exchange OTC
Sector Consumer Defensive
Industry Grocery Stores
Employees 10,000+
← All annual reports
FY2012 Annual Report · Carrefour S.A.
Loading PDF…
t
r
o
p
e
r

t
n
e
m

t
i

i

l

m
m
o
c
e
b
s
n
o
p
s
e
r
d
n
a
y
t
i
v
i
t
c
a

l

a
u
n
n
a
2
1
0
2

www.carrefour.com

Société Anonyme with capital of €1,773,036,632.50
Head office : 33, avenue Émile Zola – 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt – France
652 014 051 RCS Nanterre

1304091_Couverture_RA_GB.indd   74
1304091_Couverture_RA_GB.indd   74

06/05/13   11:34
06/05/13   11:34

2012  
annual activity  
and responsible  
commitment report 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONTENTS 

Interview with the Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer
 
page 2 

Get the latest news
on Carrefour group’s
website
www.carrefour.com

Discover
our other publications

our stores
 

Our priorities
 
A multi-local Group
 
Hypermarkets
 
Supermarkets
 
Convenience stores
 
Cash & carry and hypercash stores
 
Multichannel retail
 
Our CSR commitment
 

our products
 

Our priorities
 
Fresh produce
 
Local products
 
Everyday products
 
Non-food products
 
Carrefour’s trade services
 
Our CSR commitment
 

page 6 

page 24 

our employees 

Our priorities 
Develop the passion for retail 
Promoting employee confi dence 
Our CSR commitment 

our performance 

Our priorities 
Financial overview 
Stock market overview 
CSR overview 
Consolidated fi nancial statements 

page 40 

page 52 

Governance
 
page 69 

2012 
Registration Document

2012 
Carrefour Foundation 
annual report

2013
Shareholder’s guide 
(in French version)

Conception:
Carrefour group Communications Department

Creation and production: 

Translation: 

Photo credits: Carrefour library, Lionel Barbe, Elisa Desmares, Christophe Gay / Skyzone
Le Group, Gilles Leimdorfer / Interlinks Image, Ludovic Marin / REA, Roger Mark, David Pell
Multimédia, all rights reserved.

Paper: The Carrefour group has made a commitment to responsible management of its paper
purchases.  The  paper  used  in  this  report  is  FSC  (Forest  Stewardship  Council)  certifi ed.  This
certification attests to compliance with a set of internationally recognised forest management
principles  and  criteria.  The  aim  of  FSC  is  to  promote  environmentally  responsible,  socially
beneficial and economically viable management of the Earth’s forest.

Printing:  This  document  was  produced  by  Frazier,  FSC  and  ISO  140001  environmental
management  systems  (EMS)  certified.  Frazier  has  received  the  Imprim’Vert  brand,  meeting
requirements  for  hazardous  waste  management,  secure  storage  of  hazardous  materials  and
toxic products exclusion.

1304091_Couverture_RA_GB.indd   75
1304091_Couverture_RA_GB.indd   75

06/05/13   11:34
06/05/13   11:34

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
being a retailer is about 
working for you every day 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   1
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   1

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

 
INTERVIEW 

“We will remain  
leaders if we listen  
to our customers.” 

Georges Plassat 
Chairman and  
Chief  Executive Offi cer 

Has your assessment of Carrefour 
changed since the last Shareholders’ 
Meeting? 
I continue to fi ne-tune it whenever I meet  
store  employees,  our  partners  or  –  most  
importantly – our customers.  Very  oft en it  is  
they who make us see things as they really are  
– which is why it is so important to listen to  
them if  we  want  to be  a good  retailer.  

01 

I  still  believe  what  I  have   always   said:  
Carrefour is a good business. And for a long  
time now, it has been a standard… a model.  
But it has suff ered from having developed in  
too haphazard a way internationally, without  
having the resources to underpin its aims. As  
a result, the investments needed to modern-
ise  stores  have  fallen  off . And I see this every  
day when I visit our stores – particularly in  
France. 
Although there is still a great deal to be done,  
Carrefour has solid foundations and undeni-
able assets  in  today’s world.  We  are particu-
larly lucky to have every store format to meet  

our customers’ current needs and keep pace  
with  changes  in  consumer  trends:  hypermar-
kets, with their general product off er at  the  
best  possible prices; supermarkets, the lead-
ing format for food; convenience stores, for  
service and practicality; cash & carry stores,  
for professionals,  and e-commerce  and drive  
for  an  off er that  is  increasingly tailored  to our  
customers’  requirements.  Th  e  company  is  
also  brimming with  energy, driven by  nearly  
365,000   employees   throughout   the   world.  
Th  ese men and women who make  Carrefour  
what it is every day are our number 1 asset,  
ensuring that we remain at the top. 

“Carrefour is forging ahead and 
our employees are again enjoying 
doing their job as retailers.” 

The year 2012 was marked by a number 
of international asset sales. Does this 
herald the beginning of a withdrawal 
for Carrefour? Are there any other 
disposals on the horizon? 
The  year  2012  was  about  strategically 
refocusing our business in the regions where 
we have established strong positions. On the 
one  hand,  the  world’s  mature  countries, 
where we have to defend our well-established 
positions  and  continue  to  win  over  new 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
2 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   2
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   2

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INTERVIEW 

01	  Georges Plassat at the 

2012 Shareholders’ Meeting. 

02	  The hypermarket has to continue 
to offer a broad range of products 
at the best possible prices. 
Carrefour hypermarket shopping 
arcade in Limbiate (Italy). 

03	  Carrefour employees are mindful 
04	  of customer needs. Appliances 
employee and customer at the 
Alcobendas Carrefour hypermarket 
in Madrid (Spain). 

05	  365,000 employees are 

at the service of customers 
and are the company’s main asset. 
Hypermarket employee in 
La Chapelle Saint-Luc (France). 

02	 

04 

03	 

05 

customers and market share. On the other  
hand, the world’s emerging countries where  
we have huge growth potential. Some of our 
assets, such  as  those in  Colombia  where we  
were  behind  in  market  share,  were  more   
valuable for others  than  for us. Th  at was why  
I decided to sell them or – in other cases –  
restructure some of our partnerships (as we  
have   done  in   Greece   and  in   Indonesia), 
entrusting our local partners with the task of  
developing our Carrefour banners as  exclus-
ive  franchisees.   By  doing  this,  we   have  
regained the capacity to invest, especially in  
our  recovery  in  France  and  in  developing  our 
operations  in  China and Brazil  – two strate-
gic platforms for Carrefour.  

The year 2012 saw Carrefour return 
to the offensive on prices. Are you 
going to stay on this course and head 
off your competitors? 
In  all of  the countries in  which we  operate,  
we are mindful of the purchasing power of  
our customers,  and we  are always  striving to  
sell our products at the best possible prices  
– but without compromising on quality. We  
have made progress on this front, particu-
larly in  France, where our price image has  
improved considerably. And we are going to  
continue along this path, continually guar-
anteeing low prices for customers, particu-
larly  for  everyday   products.  Price  is   a  
precondition and we have it. Now we have to  
ensure that people know  that. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
3 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   3
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   3

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INTERVIEW 

More generally, what conclusions have 
you drawn about this first year? 
It’s  still too early to draw  any conclusions.  
Experience  has  taught  me  that  you  don’t   
accomplish anything of substance in under  
three  years.  Th  at’s  how long it  takes to care-
fully get things going again, without acceler-
ating  too  suddenly.  Carrefour  is   forging 
ahead and our employees are again enjoying  
doing their their job as retailers. Th  at’s  the  
most  important thing for me. We  are on  the  
right  track.  

How do you see 2013? 
Th  e year  2013  looks set to be  diffi  cult.  Mainly  
because  of  the world economic climate and  
the slowdown  in  consumption which is  now  
aff ecting all of  the world’s regions – including  
a number of  emerging markets.  Once  again,  
we  are facing headwinds and now,  more than  
ever, we must excel in doing our job every  
day. We must be close to our customers and  
listen to them so that we can provide them  

01 

with  local  off ers,  products  and  services  that  
are tailored to their needs, in stores in which  
they can enjoy shopping. We are in a better  
position  to take up  this  challenge.  Our foun-
dations are more solid,  particularly from  a  
fi nancial perspective. We can now begin the  
next  stage of  Carrefour’s recovery  and return  
to growth and higher profi tability. 

What are your priorities? 
Firstly,   we   have   to   reinvest   in   our   assets,  
modernise our stores and provide our cus-
tomers with a balanced commercial equa-
tion  with  renovated  stores,  car  parks  and 
attractive shopping arcades. We also have  
to  continue  our  expansion  in   each   of   our 

“We can now begin the next stage 
of Carrefour’s recovery and return to 
growth and higher profitability.” 

01	  Reaching out to customers and 
being attentive is Carrefour’s 
philosophy. Georges Plassat at the 
Guangzhou Xinshi Carrefour 
hypermarket in Canton (China). 

02	  Carrefour is going to reinvest 
05	  in its assets in order to make its 
stores more pleasant and 
shopping-orientated. 
Façade of the Market supermarket 
in Vannes (France) and the 
Express Manhattan convenience 
store in Brussels (Belgium). 

03	  Customer needs and consumer 
trends are changing. Carrefour 
adapts its stores and offers at local 
level to meet expectations. 
Customers at the Gran Sasso 
Carrefour express convenience 
store in Milan (Italy). 

04	  The company’s energy comes 

from its teams, who are passionate 
about what they do. 
Checkout employee 
at the São Caetano do Sul 
Carrefour hypermarket (Brazil). 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
4 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   4
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   4

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INTERVIEW 

02 

04 

formats,   and  in   each   of   the  countries  in  
which  we  operate.  We  will  also  continue   
decentralising  and  streamlining,  an  initia-
tive which is starting to bear fruit. Our busi-
ness   is,  by   definition,  multi-local.   This  
means  we   have   to  encourage  initiative   at 
local  level,   giving   store  managers   greater 
autonomy  and more responsibilities. Th  ey  
need  to be  able to off er product mixes that  
meet  their  customers’  needs  and  be  more 
competitive across  their catchment areas. 

03 

05 

You often speak of going back to basics. 
What exactly does being a retailer mean 
to you? 
As  a multi-local retailer, we  have  responsi-
bilities  to the local community,  wherever we  
operate,  with  our  stores  or  our  suppliers.  So  
I wanted  us  to commit  to a more direct  rela-
tionship  with  the  various  groups  with  which  
we   deal:   our   customers,   obviously,   our 
employees,  our shareholders, our suppliers  
and,   more  generally,   all  of   our  partners. 
Carrefour  has  to  maintain   close  relation-
ships with all parties. So we have to go to  
meet them and listen to them. And, together,  
work  every  day  on  creating  value  for  the 
benefi t of all. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
5 

Ne

t sales  

€7

6,789

million  

9,99
4

stores under 
G

roup banners in  

33

 countries 

9
,96
4
36

e
employe

s wor

ldwide 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   5
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   5

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

 
 
 
 
an offer that reflects
 
what I want so I can make

 the right choice
 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   6
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   6

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

 
a pleasant store changes
 
the shopping experience
 

our stores 

working for you 
means making the 
commitment that every 
day we offer you stores 
suited to your lifestyle 
and that we welcome  
you properly 

being able to find the product
 
that we are looking for – that’s
 
the most important service
 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   7
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   7

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

 
 
 
OUR STORES 

our priorities
 

make our stores  
more welcoming and
more responsible 

Your lifestyle and the ways  
you shop  are changing.  
As  a  multiformat,  multi-
channel  and  multi-local  
retailer, Carrefour has all 
the resources to cater to your different needs – whether you live in an urban or rural 
environment, are a private or a professional client, or live in France or anywhere else 
in the world. To better address your needs, we are modernising our stores so that you 
can shop in total comfort and enjoy the best possible service. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
8 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   8
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   8

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR STORES 

RELAUNCH 
EXPANSION 
Relaunching expansion will bring us closer 

MODERNISE 
STORES 
We are continually investing in our stores  

to you. In mature as well as emerging countries, 

and modernising them so that you find them  

we are going to continue to open new stores, 

more enjoyable. We have a number of initiatives  

with formats which meet your needs. 

– facilitating access to stores, providing practical  

car parks, enhancing the appeal of shopping  
arcades and making the in-store shopping  

experience more pleasant – to provide you with  

the best possible service. 

CONTINUE 
TO DEVELOP 
A MULTICHANNEL 
OFFER 
In order to match our offer with your daily needs, 

we are creating food and non-food e-commerce 

sites, as well as a range of mobile solutions suited 

to your lifestyle. We have also stepped up 

the development of our drives where you can collect 

the products you paid for online. 

TURN STORES 
INTO FRIENDLY 
SHOPPING 
ENVIRONMENTS 
We are simplifying and clarifying our offer 

so that you can enjoy the best possible experience 

in our stores, as well as an easier online experience. 

Store layouts are being redesigned so that your 

purchase routes are easy and pleasant. 

STRENGTHEN 
THE IDENTITY AND 
ASSERT THE ROLE 
OF EACH FORMAT 
Our aim is for you to understand what you
 

We are stepping up training for our employees 

are going to find in terms of product offer, services
 

so that they can better guide and advise you. 

and prices as soon as you see the banner:
 

hypermarkets – with a general product offer
 

at the best possible prices;
 

supermarkets – the leading food format;
 

convenience stores – for service and practicality;
 

cash & carry stores – for professionals;
 

and drive and e-commerce – designed to meet
 

your needs.
 

REDUCE THE IMPACT 
THAT OUR BUSINESS HAS 
ON THE ENVIRONMENT 
From the supplier to your home, via the warehouse 

and the store we are launching more schemes 

designed to preserve biodiversity and natural 

resources, as well as tackling climate change. 

Carrefour employees continually strive 

to improve the energy efficiency of our stores and 

logistics operations, reduce waste, promote 

recycling and raise the awareness of our customers 

throughout the world in a bid for a more 
responsible form of retail. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
9 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   9
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   9

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
675 

stores 
LATIN 
AMERICA 
272 hypermarkets 
168 supermarkets 
235 convenience stores  

OUR STORES 

A multi-local 
Group 
9,994
No. 1 
No. 2 

33 

in the world 

in Europe  

stores 

countries 

Stores as of December 31, 2012  
(including franchisees and partners) 

Hypermarkets  Supermarkets  Convenience  
stores 

Cash & carry  
stores 

France 

TOTAL FRANCE 

Belgium 

Italy 

Poland 

Romania 

Spain 

Turkey 

Other 

TOTAL EUROPE  
(excluding France) 

Argentina 

Brazil 

TOTAL  
LATIN AMERICA
 

China 

India 

Taiwan 

Other 

TOTAL ASIA 

3,342 
3,342 

232

720 

297

16

105

63 
1,433 

235

235 

220 
220 

46 

45 

84 

24 

173 

28 

124 
524 

76 

196 
272 

218 

61 

71 
350 

934 
934 

436 

439 

161 

68 

114 

215 

903 
2,336 

127 

41 
168 

3 

13 
16 

139 
139 

14 

7 
21 

4 

4 

TOTAL 

4,635
 
4,635
 

714


1,218
 

542


108


392


243
 

1,097
 
4,314 

438


237
 
675
 

218
 

4
 

64
 

84
 
370
 

TOTAL GROUP 

1,366 

3,454 

5,010 

164 

9,994 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
10
 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   10
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   10

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4,635


stores 
FRANCE
 
220 hypermarkets  
934 supermarkets 
3 ,342 convenience stores  
139 cash & carry stores 

OUR STORES 

4,314

stores 
EUROPE (EXCL. FRANCE) 
524 hypermarkets 
2 ,336 supermarkets 
1,433 convenience stores  
21 cash & carry stores 

370 

stores 
ASIA 
350 hypermarkets 
16 supermarkets 
4 cash & carry stores 

  Integrated countries

  Franchised countries
 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
11 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   11
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   11

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

OUR STORES 

HYPERMARKETS
 

A broad product 
offer and low prices 
every day makes 
the hypermarket 
the ideal format for 
major shopping trips 

A large sales area, a wide range of food and 
non-food products, low prices and targeted 
special offers – the hypermarket is the format 
for major shopping trips. 

WINNING ON PRICE 
In  2012, Carrefour set out to maximise  its cus-
tomers’  purchasing  power.  In  each  of  its   
1,366  hypermarkets,  Carrefour  launched   an  
offensive designed  to offer the most  competitive  
prices  on  the  market  and  maintain  an  unbeat-
able price image.  The offensive included  the  
“Lowest Price Guarantee” campaign in France,  

“Price, service, 
responsibility” 
Carrefour is working for you 

– Commitments to offer you the best 
possible prices, including the “Lowest 
Price Guarantee” campaign in France 
and prices lowered on 4,000 daily 
food products in Spain. 
– Tailored services to meet your 
requirements and a wide offer available 
in sales areas ranging from 2,400 sq. m 
to 23,000 sq. m. 
– Initiatives to protect the environment 
with more double-glazed refrigeration 
units in the frozen food and fresh 
product aisles in order to save energy. 

and  lower  prices  on  4,000  daily  food  products  
in  Spain. 
The  initiatives  were  underpinned  by  loyalty  
programmes designed to increase household  
purchasing  power.  They  included  instant  dis-
counts  for bearers of the Carrefour Rodzinka  
(family) card in Poland, and Loyalty e-Cheques  
for  use  in  French  stores,  as  well  as  on   
 carrefourdrive.fr.  In  Spain,  alongside  the   
Carrefour Club, which has 7 million active cus-
tomers  who  can  collect  “savings  cheques”, 
Carrefour launched  two initiatives for those  
most  affected  by the economic crisis. The “large  
family” and “over 65-year-old” cards give cus-
tomers VAT discounts on more than 4,000 fresh  
products.  This  represents  savings  of  4%  to  8%,  
depending on the product. 
Throughout the world,  Carrefour’s hypermar-
ket customers can enjoy attractive sales cam-
paigns  and special offers: shopping refunds in  
Turkey,  special  “knockdown  prices”  days  in  
Brazil, major sales events including the opportu-
nity   to  win  4  million  pesos  to  celebrate  
Carrefour’s  30th  anniversary  in  Argentina,  and 
in Taiwan, a partnership with Angry Birds, one  
of the most  popular video games in  the world. 

01 

STORES WHERE SHOPPING 
IS EASIER 
With sales areas of between 2,400 sq. m and  
23,000  sq. m,  Carrefour’s hypermarkets  feature  
an  extremely wide  range of both  food  and non-
food  products. Guiding its customers through  
the  aisles  of  their  hypermarkets  so  that  they  can  
easily find the products they are looking for is  
one of the services  that Carrefour is  continually  
striving to improve. In all of the countries where  
the Group operates, its employees are striving  
to  make  stores  more  pleasant,  friendly  and   
c  onducive to shopping, developing solutions  
that  are  increasingly  tailored  to  meet  customer  
needs,  starting  with   a  drive  to  simplify   the  
pr  oduct  offer. 
Carrefour is also trying to reduce the amount  
of  time  that  customers  have  to  spend  at  the   
checkout  counter.  

317
 

employees on average  
in a French hypermarket 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
12 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   12
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   12

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR STORES 

01	  A general offer at the best possible 
price in the Group’s hypermarkets. 
Central aisle of the La Chapelle 
Saint-Luc hypermarket (France). 

02	  Caring employees and innovative 
services designed to make 
shopping easier. 
Employee at the La Plata 
Carrefour hypermarket 
in Buenos Aires (Argentina). 

03	  Attractive sales campaigns and 

special offers livening up the aisles. 
Customers at the Tien Mou 
Carrefour hypermarket in Taipei 
(Taiwan). 

04	  Innovative services designed 

to help you save time, such as the 
Selfscan system, for example. 
Customer at the Bomerée 
hypermarket (Belgium). 

03 

TARGETED GROWTH 
In all of the countries in which the Group oper-
ates, Carrefour is  continuing with  the expansion  
of its hypermarket format: it opened  53  new  
stores  in  2012. In  France, Carrefour is  relaunch-
ing its expansion programme, with the opening  
of a 4,358 sq. m urban store in Lyon in the new  
Confluence district, and a 7,000 sq. m suburban  
store   in   La   Chapelle   Saint-Luc,   in   the   Aube  
département. The store,  which also  features  a  
drive,  is  right in  the centre of the new Escapade  
shopping centre, built by Carrefour Property  as  
part of the Grand Troyes urban renovation pro-
ject. In Europe, Carrefour has opened two new  
hypermarkets – one in Spain in Santiago de  
Compostela,  and  the  other  in  Bodrum  in  
Turkey.  In   growth   markets,   the  Carrefour  
hypermarket format has proved  popular with  
consumers  because  it  is  tailored  to  their  lifestyles  
and local consumer habits. The Group is using  
it as a development model. In 2012, it opened  
18 new hypermarkets in China, bringing the  
total number of stores to 218 in 67 towns and  
cities  throughout the country.  A new 5,400 sq. m  
store was also opened in Taiwan, together with  
a smaller 3,250 sq. m hypermarket in Glew in  
Argentina.   Carrefour   is   also   increasing   the  
numbers of franchise stores in Iraq, Georgia and  
the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,  
and  is   continuing  with   its  expansion  pro-
grammes  in  the  Middle  East,  Bulgaria  and 
French  overseas  territories. 

13.5 million
 

active loyalty cardholders  
in France 

02 

04 

In  Italy and France, for example,  it is  experi-
menting with  the “single queue”  system, where  
customers queue in  a single line leading to 10  to  
15 checkouts using a screen to guide them to the  
first  available  checkout. 

A WIDE, CUSTOMISED 
PRODUCT OFFER 
Hypermarkets  have a product offer that is  tai-
lored to the profile and purchasing power of  
their   clientele,   adjusted   depending   on   local  
competition.  For  example,  in  five  of  its  French  
stores, Carrefour has been experimenting with  
a new “budget shopping” aisle,  in  which a selec-
tion of 300 to 600 daily products  are on sale at  
the lowest  prices  on the market. This  way,  cus-
tomers   can  choose   from  a  wide   selection  of 
major-brand and own-brand products, as well  
as  a selection of regional  products. In  addition  
to grocery products, Carrefour hypermarkets  
also showcase self-service or cut to order fresh  
products  with  counters  managed  by  food   
profe
ssionals.   Customers  also   have  a  wide  
choice  of  non-food  products,  including  house-
hold  appliances,  multimedia,  textiles,  DIY,  
decoration and furniture. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
13 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   13
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   13

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR STORES 

SUPERMARKETS
 

The leading 
food format, 
combining 
convenience, 
fresh and daily 
products 

Stalls that are brimming with fresh produce, a  
selection  of  non-food   top-up  products,  low 
prices   throughout   the   store…   the   Group’s  
supermarkets  have  become  a  standard  in  con-
venience  food  retail. 

A SUSTAINED EXPANSION 
In 2012, 83 new supermarkets were opened,  
bringing  the  total  number  of  stores  in  this  for-
mat  to  3,454.  In  France,  the  Group  opened  
3 supermarkets on the mainland and another  
3 with its franchise partners in Guadeloupe,  
Martinique and a first in Guyana. Supermarket  
customers have benefited from the increase  in  
the number of drives. As of the end of 2012,  
more than  120 stores  now include drives, of  
which   around   40   are   franchised   stores.  
Supermarket  banners  are  also  expanding  in  
Europe: 17 new stores were opened in Italy, 4 in  
Spain and 4 in  Belgium.  In  Romania,  Carrefour  
opened 24 new supermarkets in 2012, bringing  
the total number of stores in this country to 68.  
The  people  of  Flanders,  in  Belgium,  will  soon  
be able to enjoy ten or so new supermarkets since  
Carrefour took over the old O’Cool stores  at the  
end of 2012. The supermarket format is also  
expanding across Asia and Latin America. Its  
acquisition of the Eki store chain has enabled  
Carrefour to shore up its position as  the leading  
retailer in Argentina – it has opened 19 new  
supermarkets, mainly located in the capital and  
surrounding areas. In Brazil, the Group now has  
41  stores  under the Carrefour bairro  banner, 

01 

selling products that are adapted to meet local  
people’s  needs,  following the example of other  
countries  in  which  the  Group  operates.  
Carrefour franchise partners  are also  continu-
ing  to  grow,  with  new  supermarkets  being 
opened in North Africa, the Balkans and the  
Gulf  states. 

A FRIENDLY MERCHANDISING 
CONCEPT 
Fresh produce presented as  it would be  at a tra-
ditional  market, a diversified range of food  prod-
ucts that encourages people to discover them  
and a product staging with a decidedly merchan-
dising slant to it: this is what Market – Carrefour’s  
new supermarket concept – is  all about.  With  
full-scale  tests  having  been  carried  out  in  four 
stores in France, the Market banner seeks to  
establish stores  locally and foster close ties  with  
customers.  As  soon  as  customers enter the store,  
the managers  present themselves. And in  the  

fresh produce aisles, a sign  tells  them who is  
responsible for them, as  well  as  providing details  
of current special offers  and a selection of “prod-
ucts chosen by you”. Throughout the store, the 
atmosphere is  friendly  and features, for example,  
opportunities to taste products. And merchan-
dising   innovations   beckon,   simplifying   the  
shopping  experience.  New  products  are  high-
lighted by coloured signs and a “for every purse”  
sign  displays  the various price levels  within  a  
given category. Local products  are very  popular  
with  as  many  as  400  regional  items  showcased  
on the shelves.  As  far as  the services  on offer are  
concerned, customers in a hurry can select the  
Scan’phone  market  option. This  involves  scan-
ning  their  purchases  with  their  mobile  phone  
and then paying at an express checkout. Other 
customers can use the interactive terminals in  
the store to indicate  what they  want, manage  
their loyalty programme or find out information  
about the various services  available. 

3,454
 

supermarkets  
throughout the world 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
14 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   14
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   14

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR STORES 

05 

02	 

03 

06 

01	  Fresh products are central to 
05	  the Carrefour supermarket concept. 
Employees at the Carrefour market 
stores in Tongeren (Belgium) and 
Gurme (Turkey). 

02	  Supermarket customers can get 
03	  a selection of daily products 
at the best possible prices. 
Customers at the Santo Amaro 
Carrefour bairro in São Paulo 
(Brazil) and the Ortiz Carrefour 
market in Buenos Aires (Argentina). 

04	  “Lowest Price Guarantee” 

campaign in French supermarkets 
in 2012. 

06	  With sales areas ranging from 

1,000 sq. m to 4,000 sq. m in towns 
or more rural areas, the Group’s 
supermarkets are the leading food 
format. Customer at the Caramfil 
Carrefour market in Bucharest 
(Romania). 

07	  Self-service or cut-to-order fresh 

products are among the strong 
points of the Group’s supermarkets. 
Employee at the fish counter of the 
Piazza Clotilde Carrefour market 
in Milan (Italy). 

04 

07 

LOW PRICES AND FRESHNESS 
GUARANTEED 
In  2012, Carrefour launched  its price offensive  
in  France.  This  involved  the  “Lowest  Price 
Guarantee”  campaign  in  supermarkets,  which  
got  under  way  in  April  and  which  targets  a 
 different fruit,  vegetable,  fresh/cured meat  prod-
uct, fish and cheese every day. Carrefour prom-
ises to refund customers twice the difference if  
they  find the same products  for a lower price  
anywhere within a 15-kilometre radius of their  
store.  And because  freshness is  a key criterion  
in getting customers to choose Carrefour and  

50
 

employees on average 
in a French supermarket 

remain loyal to the banner, its supermarkets  
also   make   commitments  through  the  
“Freshness  Guarantee”  campaign. Meat and  
fish, breads, traditional pastries  and croissants,  
cured meats and cut-to-order cheese, fruit and  
vegetables  from the market  area… all of these  
fresh products  are exchanged and refunded  for  
Carrefour card holders within 72 hours if they  
are not completely satisfied with their freshness. 
In all of the countries in which the Group oper-
ates, supermarket customers can enjoy a range  
of food  products  adapted to their needs at the  
lowest  possible prices, as  well  as  attractive spe-
cial  offers  and loyalty programmes. In  Italy,  for  
example,   Spesamica   card   holders  enjoyed  a 
range of special offers in 2012 granting them  
vouchers  for a number of seasonal  products,  
Easter chocolates and ice creams and sorbets in  
the  summer. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
15 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   15
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   15

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR STORES 

01 

CONVENIENCE
 
STORES
 

Practical and close 
to home, it is 
the store you shop 
at every day 

With long opening hours, a range of products  
designed to meet everybody’s needs and a mul-
titude  of  services,  the  Group’s  convenience 
stores   can  completely  cater  to  today’s  and 
tomorrow’s  lifestyles. The clue is  in  the name of  
the banner: Express is for daily purchases, City  
features  a range of ready-to-eat products  aimed  
at urban dwellers in a hurry, Contact is in rural  
areas and stocks everything you need for the  
family, while Montagne makes shopping in  ski  

resorts simpler. What these banners have in
common is  that they  are franchises  and are help-
ing Carrefour to achieve its aim:  establish itself
as  the leading convenience retailer. 

5,010
 

convenience stores  
throughout the world 

02 

A COMPLETELY 
SERVICE-ORIENTED 
CONCEPT 
Shop close to home or on the way back  from  
work at a store with  opening hours that fit your  
lifestyle – that’s what people want from con-
venience  stores. And the rest  is  all about services  
– services  that are specially tailored  to meet  the  
local needs of the customers, such as “basket  
checkouts” to speed up payment, home delivery  
and  ordering  online.  It   was  with   all  these 
requirements  in  mind that Carrefour express  
first set up a store in  a service station in  Spain  
and that Carrefour city  opened  its doors in  the  
new  Saint-Lazare  station  shopping  arcade  in  
Paris.  Open  from  7  am  to  11  pm  and  designed  
to cater to the needs of large numbers of pas-
serbys and local residents, customers can use  
the “Mon panier  Carrefour city” mobile app to  
order their purchases and then pick  them up  
two hours later from a special checkout. 

LOCAL RETAILERS 
To become the benchmark in local retailing, 
customer relations are central to convenience 
store  strategy.  So  Carrefour  is  continually 
recruiting and training franchise candidates 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
16 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   16
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   16

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
OUR STORES 

01	  Façade of the Express Manhattan 
convenience store in Brussels 
(Belgium). 

02	  Employees at the Express store 
06	  in Marseille (France) and the Sasso 
Carrefour express store in Milan 
(Italy). 

03  With long opening hours, a range 
04  of products designed to meet 
05  everybody’s needs and a multitude 

of services, the Group’s 
convenience stores cater to today’s 
and tomorrow’s lifestyles. 
Customers at the C/ Mellado 
Carrefour express store in Madrid 
(Spain), the Ciudad de la Paz 
store in Belgrano (Argentina) and 
the Gwiaz´dzista store (Poland). 

04	 

06 

DETERMINED GROWTH 
Convenience is  a growth  format that is  attractive  
for retailers and which does not require large  
investments  for  Carrefour.  It  is  enjoying  consid-
erable  growth  throughout  the  world  and  is  very  
popular among customers. In 2012, 559 new  
convenience stores were opened, including 192  
in  France, where the Group has just  opened  its  
1,000th  store under Carrefour banners, bringing  
the total number of stores in the country to  
3,342.  Carrefour Poland is  investing heavily in  
convenience and franchise stores: it doubled its  
total number of stores in 2012 by opening 149  
new retail outlets. Other countries in Europe  
have  also  enjoyed  healthy  growth  with  66  new  
franchised  stores  opening  in  Spain,  60  new   
stores in Italy and 18 in Belgium. In Argentina,  
Carrefour has confirmed its position as  the lead-
ing retailer with 166 new convenience stores  
– including the 110 stores bought from Eki –  
bringing the total number to 235. 

“Proximity and
 
accessibility”
 
Carrefour is working for you 

– Even closer to you:
 
convenience stores are opening in
 
service stations (Spain, Poland and Italy)
 
and railway stations (France).
 
– Even more accessible:
 
opening hours of convenience stores
 
have been extended to cater
 
for all lifestyles.
 

03	 

05 

with  convincing  arguments:  strong  banners  
and more than  fifty years of retail  experience.  
For example,  the baker from Poey-de-Lescar, a  
village in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques départe-
ment  (France)   wanted   to   meet   the   needs   of  
people living locally and so  set up a new store  
combining a Carrefour contact  convenience  
store and his own bakery. Doing this gave a 
boost to the local sales dynamic which went  
beyond the confines  of the village.  These future  
retailers learn the trade in training stores or  
with employees. They learn all about retail, 
sourcing, dealing with  fresh products, bread,  
as   well   as   management   and   the   economic  
aspects of the company.  Carrefour provides  
them  with  support  in  choosing  products  that  
are appropriate for their catchment area and in  
arranging  the  shelves.  They  can  take  advantage 
of the Group’s purchasing power and are given  
advice   about  setting  sales  prices   that  are  
adapted to local competition. Another way to  
run a convenience store is through the rental  
management  scheme.  Internal  or  external  
 candidates  can sign  up without any financial  
contribution: they  follow  a development  pro-
gramme, then manage a store before eventually  
taking  ownership. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
17 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   17
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   17

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR STORES 

CASH & CARRY
 

STORES
 

Banners for catering 
and food business 
professionals 

The Group’s cash & carry banners have a range 
of food and non-food products at wholesale 
prices, together with bespoke services designed 
to support and make the work of caterers and 
convenience  food  businesses  easier.  Major-
brand products can be found alongside own-
brand  products,  fresh  products  and  more 
specific products for use in catering (assembly 
and hygiene products, crockery, etc.), as well as 
products for resale to grocers. 

A NETWORK FOR 
PROFESSIONAL CUSTOMERS 
In 2012, two new Promocash stores and 4 drives 
were opened, bringing the total number of stores 
to 139 and 12 drives, confirming Promocash as 
the largest franchised network of cash & carry 
stores  with  a  delivery  service  in  mainland 
France. As far as growth is concerned, Carrefour 
is using local franchisees, for example to open 
the  first  Promocash  in  Nouméa,  in  New 
Caledonia. Outside France, cash & carry stores 
in Italy trade under the Docks Market banner, 
which will continue to grow in 2013 as recently 
purchased  stores  are  transformed.  In  India, 
Carrefour  has  continued  with  its  expansion 
programme,  opening  two  new  Carrefour 
Wholesale Cash & Carry stores. 

164
 

cash & carry stores 
throughout the world 

A FULLY CUSTOMISED 
RELATIONSHIP 
The Group’s cash & carry stores  have a range of  
high-quality products at the lowest possible  
prices  for  professional  customers,  together  with  
innovative services tailored to their require-
ments. The stores’ opening times have been 
adapted to fit in  with  the lifestyles  of profession-
als of the food  business. The Docks food  order  
and  pick-up  point  right  in  the  centre  of  the 
Genova  fruit and vegetable market, for example,  
is open from 4am to 11am, Monday to Saturday.  
Customers can take  advantage of different sup-
ply  modes,  as  they  can  at  Promocash,  with  in-
store  purchases,   delivery   or  drive  pick-up,  
together with a range of customer services such  
as  menu  and  wine  list  printing  for  restaurants.  
In  all of the Group’s banners,  professional  cus-
tomers  can take  advantage of low prices  and  
special offers  to  increase  profitability in  the long  
term. The stores  also  feature a range of custom-
ised  campaigns  designed  to  further  develop  
customer  loyalty,  such  as  the “Carrefour  Max”  
programme in  India,  which enables customer  
to collect reductions  for the following month or  
the “Club Promocash”  in  France, which has  
highly  targeted  sales  proposals  and  rewards  
each member’s volume of business. 

01	  Promocash has a range 

of products and services specially 
tailored for professionals and 
has nearly 300,000 customers 
in France, including 62% 
in the restaurant industry. 
Promocash store in Colombelles 
(France). 

02	  Carrefour is continuing 

to develop its hypercash banner 
in Brazil with the opening of 
10 new Atacadão stores in 2012. 
Itaquera store (Brazil). 

03	  In Argentina, more than 

30,000 customers visit the 
Carrefour Maxi banner each month. 
Burzaco store (Argentina). 

04	  In 2012, the Group opened up 
two new Carrefour Wholesale 
Cash & Carry stores in India. 
Customers at the Jaipur store 
(India). 

05	  The Atacadão banner celebrated 
its 50th anniversary in 2012. 
Employee at the Praira Grande 
store in São Paulo (Brazil). 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
18 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   18
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   18

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR STORES 

01 

02 

04 

HYPERCASH
 

STORES
 

The advantages 
of wholesale 
and hypermarkets 
for everyone 

03 

05 

Products p  resented on pallets and sold in  large  
quantities  at  wholesale  prices  at  sites  that  are 
open  to  both  professional  customers  and  indi-
viduals:  that  is  the  recipe  behind  the  hypercash  
store model that Carrefour deploys in  some of  
its markets. 

ATACADÃO CELEBRATES 
50 YEARS OF SUCCESS 
IN BRAZIL 
Atacadão’s  history  began  in  1962  in  Maringá,  
in  southern  Brazil,  with  the  door-to-door  selling 
of sardines and cheese to companies. In the  
early 1970s, it opened a branch in São Paulo.  
Ten years later, it opened its first self-service  
and wholesale stores. It started to grow rapidly  

in  the  2000s,  selling  Atacadão-branded  prod-
ucts throughout the country and opening 23  
stores. In  2007, the Carrefour group acquired  
Atacadão   and   embarked   on   a   sustained  
 development  of the network.  It  opened  new 
stores and converted some Group hypermar-
kets,  reaching  70  stores  by  the  end  of  2010. 
10 new stores were then opened in 2012, bring-
ing the total number to 93. With more than  
615,000   sq.  m  of  sales  area   throughout  the 
 country featuring 10,000  food  and non-food  
items, they employ more than 26,000 people.  
Atacadão’s  growth  strategy  together  with  its  
growing sales and Brazil’s encouraging eco-
nomic forecasts  make  it one of the country’s  
most promising retail banners. 

A FAST-GROWING 
FORMAT 
The  Atacadão  hypercash  store  concept  was 
established in Morocco in 2012. The Label’Vie  
group, Carrefour’s franchised  partner in  the  
country,  opened  4 stores  for individuals and  
professional   customers  in   Casablanca,  Fes, 
Tangiers and Oujda. The new stores aim to meet  
local peoples’ need  for high-quality  products  at  
the best possible prices. In Argentina – where  
the Group opened  2 Carrefour Maxi  stores  in  
2011 – the sales dynamic continues, and more  
than 30,000 customers shop at Carrefour every  
month. In Italy, the GrossIper banner has con-
tinued to expand, with the opening of a new  
store on the outskirts of Milan. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
19 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   19
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   19

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR STORES 

MULTICHANNEL
 

RETAIL
 

In-store and 
online shopping: 
Carrefour in the age 
of mobility 

Some customers want  the enjoyment of  pur-
chasing their fresh products in-store; others  
prefer to shop online whenever they like or order  
remotely and then collect their shopping from  
a drive.  Carrefour can provide both  in-store and  
e-commerce  solutions,  providing its customers  
with the best possible complementary service. 

A NEW ONLINE EXPERIENCE 
Carrefour is  increasing its shopping options to  
satisfy customers looking for practical solutions  
and bargains. In  France, the new version of car-
refour.fr,   launched   in   2012,  now  makes  life  
easier for online shoppers, providing fast  access  
to  a  number  of   different  e-commerce   sites.  
Carrefour’s website really is a store in every 
sense of the word, attracting some 5.4 million  
visitors every month. In the online food shop,  
Ooshop.com, which has been operating since  
1999, customers can choose  from a selection of  

5.4 million
 

unique visitors on average  
to the French site each month 

01 

PROVIDING MORE DRIVES 
Buying your products online at the same prices 
as in stores and then picking them up in less 
than five minutes at a dedicated point in your 
hypermarket or supermarket in France – that’s 
a Carrefour drive. 15%* of all French households 
have shopped at least once in a drive. Carrefour 
is therefore rolling them out faster, with 175 new 
ones this year, bringing the total number of 
pick-up points to more than 200. In mature 
markets and where there is customer demand, 
drives are also being opened, as is the case in 
Belgium and Spain. 
* Source: Kantar Worldpanel.
 
(Data over a 12 month period: Nov. 2011 – Nov. 2012)
 

more than 8,000 products and access special  
offers and their own personal area in a single  
click. Users are guided by product sheets and  
purchase  tips  help  them  make  the  most  of  their  
household budget. Carrefour.fr  also  has a very  
wide  range  of  non-food  products,  supplement-
ing the products  available in  its stores  in  the TV,  
video,  telephony,  high-tech  and  household 
appliance  departments.  In  Spain,  Carrefour’s 
food e-commerce site covers around 80% of the  
country and offers  nearly 14,000  products  – as  
many  as  its hypermarkets. Spain’s non-food  
website is  visited by more than  3 million people  
every month and sells 9,000  products  – mainly  
household appliances, photography,  cinema,  
sound and multimedia items. And in order to  
win over Turkey’s 35 million Internet users,  
Carrefour has just  launched  a non-food  e-com-
merce platform. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
20 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   20
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   20

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR STORES 

02 

04

05 

THE MOBILE REVOLUTION 
Mobility-related  technological developments are  
dramatically   altering   consumer   habits.  
Carrefour’s latest  mobile innovations are evi-
dence of this change and shape what shopping  
will  be  like  in  the  future.  The  “mes  courses  
Carrefour”  application was downloaded  260,000  
times in 2012. Customers can use it to do their  
shopping whenever they want from their mobile  
phone, enjoying a range of features which make  
their shopping experience  easier, such  as  the abil-
ity to navigate the aisles and view their most  
recent purchases. Customers can then choose to  
have their shopping delivered or pick it up at the  
drive of their choice. Two temporary virtual  
stores set up at the Lyon Part-Dieu and Paris-
Nord stations in France provided travellers with  
an   opportunity  to  use  online  shopping  with  
Carrefour.  The Group has also seized the oppor-
tunity  provided  by  Google  Indoor  Maps  in   
France, offering its customers a service that  
reflects their new consumer habits: they can  
now view  a plan  of their shop and see the aisles  
using a smart phone or tablet computer. The  
application was tested  in  10  pilot hypermarkets.  
In order to best cater to the mobile lifestyle of  
its customers,  the new Carrefour city  which 
opened  in  2012  at  the  Saint-Lazare  station  in  
Paris has launched  a free  application.  Customers  
can use it to shop directly from their mobiles  
and pick  up their purchases two hours later from  
a dedicated checkout. 

77%
 

of all French people say that they  
could not give up shopping in stores  

Source: IFOP poll – BNP Paribas workshop – November 2012 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
21 

03 

01	  Carrefour is opening more drives 

in France. 
Employee at the La Beaujoire 
Carrefour drive in Nantes (France). 

02	  The Group’s e-commerce sites 

meet the needs of customers 
looking for practical solutions and 
bargains – as is the case in 
Spain with carrefour.es, an online 
store open 24 hours a day. 

03	  Customers at the new Carrefour city 
store at the Saint-Lazare station 
in Paris (France) can now shop from 
their mobile phone and then pick 
their purchases up in the store. 

04	  Carrefour drive customers 

in France can choose from more 
than 8,000 products on sale 
at the same prices as in-store. 

05	  As a way of showcasing its services, 
in 2012, Carrefour installed virtual 
stores in two railway stations 
in France. They were presented 
as luminous cubes displaying 300 
of the most frequently purchased 
items by Carrefour’s online customers. 

A COMPLEMENTARY 
MULTICHANNEL 
OFFER 
Carrefour now also offers its 
customers a range of new services 
in its stores. Information terminals, 
for example, have been installed 
in the aisles, supplementing 
the expertise of employees. 
Because there are more and more 
so-called “cross-channel” 
customers who make purchases 
both in stores and online, 
Carrefour’s e-commerce sites 
are bolstering and widening their 
product offer. In Spain and Turkey, 
high-tech products and household 
appliances in particular appeal 
to online users. In 2012, Carrefour 
put more than 20,000 new 
products online in France. These 
included new categories, such 
as game and software downloads, 
subscriptions to newspapers or 
magazines and games and toys for 
Christmas. 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   21
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   21

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR STORES 

Carrefour is committed to reducing  
the environmental impact of its retail business. 
The Group sets great store by implementing initiatives to tackle climate change and preserve the  
planet’s  natural resources. It  is striving  to  develop stores that  use less energy  and water,  generate  
less waste and emit less CO2  and which have less of an impact on the environment all along the  
logistics chain. The Group’s aims are clear: reduce its energy consumption per square metre of  
sales area by 30% by 2020 (compared with 2004), reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by  
2020 (compared with 2009 in France, Belgium, Spain and Italy), eliminate HFCs from new 
refrigeration equipment starting in 2015, reduce store water consumption and encourage the  
recycling of store waste. To do so, Carrefour is designing energy-saving stores, experimenting  
with new technologies, sharing examples of best practice with other market players, raising 
awareness among its staff and trying  to  get its customers to  consume more  responsibly  in a way  
that  is beneficial to  all. 

SEE PAGE 60 FOR THE CSR INDICATORS 
AND MORE INFORMATION AT www.carrefour.com 

A FEW INITIATIVES
  

CARRIED OUT IN 2012
 

INNOVATIONS ON 
THE LOGISTICS CHAIN 
In  order to minimise  its impact  on the environ-
ment  and reduce  its carbon footprint,  Carrefour  
is  working on all fronts  to optimise  its transport  
and logistics activities. Its initiatives include  
sharing  warehouses   to  reduce   the  distances  
t ravelled  and optimising the ways  in  which lor-
ries are filled by using lorries with girders and  
introducing  backhauling.  The  Group  is  also  
carrying  on  with  its  efforts  to  increase  the  use  
of alterna  tive  modes of transport,  such  as  mul-
timodal transport combining rail/road or river/ 
road  in  countries  where  the  infrastructure 
allows  it. Innovative engine and fuel  solutions  
are also being tested for a more eco-friendly  

fleet.  Carrefour is  testing its first lorries running  
on  biomethane  fuel  produced  using  waste  from  
its hypermarkets  in  France. Biomethane fuel  is  
made  by recycling store waste (fruit and veget-
ables or pastries, for example,  that are no longer  
fit for consumption), and is  a completely de-
carbonated   version  of  NGV  (natural   gas  for  
vehicles),  as  well  as  being  completely  renewable.  
Three lorries are running on it, making carbon  
neutral deliveries to around fifteen Carrefour  
hypermarkets  in  northern  France  –  a  concrete  
example of  energy  self-sufficiency  for deliveries  
to stores. 

MORE SUSTAINABLE STORES 
In  a bid to make  its stores  more carbon neutral,  
Carrefour is  using the very  latest  technologies  
to improve the energy ef 
ficiency o  f i  ts existing  
ones and those that it is renovating. It is doing  
this  by investing around €30 million per year  
over several years and incorporating strict envi-
ronmental criteria into the construction and  
renovation of its hypermarkets a  nd supermar-
kets. In  France, for example,  the companies that  
work  with   Carrefour  Property   (the  Group’s  
property management company) sign up to the  
“Green  Construction”  charter,  which  limits  the  
extent  to  which  building  site  work  can  impact  
the environment.  As  well  as  the  works  phase, 
even  the  way  in  which  sites  are  designed  

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
22 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   22
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   22

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

 
 
 
 
OUR STORES 

CARREFOUR TURKEY  
SWITCHES TO  
NATURAL FLUID 
The second biggest source of CO2 
emissions after electricity is 
leakage of refrigeration fl uids from 
food cold storage units and this 
is being studied as part of a major 
initiative which aims to tackle these 
emissions at source. The Kurtköy 
Millenium Carrefour Expres SA in 
Turkey, for example, has introduced 
a new refrigeration system which 
has already been tested in a 
number of the Group’s other stores. 
It uses a natural fluid – carbon 
dioxide – in order to reduce 
its environmental footprint and so 
save money on energy. 
The new-generation refrigeration 
equipment can reduce energy 
consumption by 10% to 20% while 
using less fluids, reducing leakage 
by 75%. 

01  Closed refrigeration units is one of the Group’s initiatives for reducing energy consumption in its stores. 

Manhattan Express store in Brussels (Belgium). 

 integrates  environmental considerations. The  
new L’Escapade  shopping centre, for example,  
in La Chapelle Saint-Luc, near Troyes (France)  
has been designed in accordance with the HEQ  
(High Environmental Quality) and BREEAM*  
standards.  The site  is  a sound example of the  
Group’s commitment to protecting the environ-
ment. Opened  in  November  2012, it includes  a  
Carrefour  hypermarket  that  is   the  perfect  
embodiment  of  the  retailer’s  sustainability   
policy. The store’s LED lighting and its closed,  
double-glazed refrigeration units in the frozen  
food  and fresh product aisles  are among some  
of the many measures that help save an esti-
mated 107,000  kWh per year  – energy  savings of  
around 34% compared  with  a similar store.  
Using  methanisation  to  manage  the  store’s 
organic  waste,  maintaining  biodiversity  with  
nearly  25,000  plants  at  the  site  and  recovering  
rainwater for use in cleaning and watering are  
among the commitments that are consistent  
with  the  “nature  approach”  that  the  L’Escapade  
shopping centre offers its customers. 
* International reference for the environmental quality of buildings. 

30%
 

amount by which the Group aims  
to cut energy consumption per sq. m
  
of sales area by 2020 (compared with 2004)
 

CUSTOMER 
AWARENESS-RAISING 
The Group spends  more than  €0.5  billion on  
energy  for its stores  every year. With  energy  
prices   constantly   increasing   and   customers  
more mindful of energy issues, Carrefour has  
decided  to  actively  invest  in  developing  ways  of  
reducing its energy consumption. The Group is  
continuing with  its efforts to reach the target  it  
has set itself (reducing energy consumption by  
30% for every sq.m  of sales area  by 2020  com-
pared with  2004).  This  is  one of the cornerstones  
of Carrefour’s drive to tackle wastage. At the  
same time, Carrefour is  helping its employees  
and customers to reduce  their energy  consump-
tion and spending. In  January 2012, for exam-
ple,  the  Group’s  hypermarkets  in  France  took  
part in the “let’s save energy” campaign, the aim  
being to tell customers how to save money and  
protect the environment at the same time. The  
stores showcased a range of energy-saving prod-
ucts  and included  information so  that people  
can recognise them and understand the mean-
ing of their labels: the Energy  label,  the Energy  
Star   label  and  the  European   ecolabel   which 
guarantees  that a product’s quality,  usage and  
life-cycle (from the extraction of raw materials  
to recycling) have all been taken into account. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
23 

1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   23
1304091_RA_CARREF_1_23_GB.indd   23

06/05/13   11:54
06/05/13   11:54

   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
major brands
 
at low prices
 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   24
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   24

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
products from my region
 
in my store
 

our products 
working for you
means providing you 
with a wide range 
of products designed 
to cater to all your 
desires at the best  
possible price and in 
complete confidence 

low prices,
 
more confidence
 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   25
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   25

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
OUR PRODUCTS 

our priorities
 

offer a wide selection  
of high-quality products
at the best prices 

Products  are our core  busi-
ness. Our conception of  
what we offer is based on  
unchanging  principles:  a  
wide selection, the lowest 
prices and irreproachable quality. To cater to your needs throughout the world, we 
refine our offer to provide you with a variety of fresh produce, products from local 
suppliers, major-brand products, essential non-food items, the best innovations and 
day-to-day retail services. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
26 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   26
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   26

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR PRODUCTS 

ENSURE  
THE QUALITY  
OF OUR PRODUCTS 
Quality is a requirement and the guarantee  

for gaining your trust in the long term. It is in our  

genes. Our products all meet strict and intangible  

requirements in terms of quality and safety.  

We need to re-emphasise this quality-focused  

culture and be the best – particularly in relation  

to fresh products. We can do this by bolstering  

our partnerships with producers-breeders,  

who are unique in terms of their ability to guarantee  

quality on the market. And for all of the products  

we sell, we have to maximise value for money –  

to the benefit of all. 

INCREASE  
THE CLARITY  
OF OUR PRODUCT  
OFFER 
We must ensure that our offer is of high quality  

and easy to understand, particularly in terms of  

pricing. Efficiency always has to take precedence  

over abundance. We must cater to everybody’s  

needs by giving priority to the most popular  

major-brand products sold at market prices.  

Carrefour-branded products supplement those  

of major brands, and are focused around a selection  

of simple, high-quality products. We are widening  

our range of regional products. And to make  

the shopping experience easier, we are also  

PROMOTE 
RESPONSIBLE 
SOURCING 
As the world’s second largest retailer, we are 

aware of our responsibility as a major purchaser. 

We are working on our sourcing processes 

throughout the world, with the aim of protecting 

biodiversity and natural resources, as well 

as ensuring the economic sustainability 

of our business. We are implementing concrete 

initiatives in order to improve traceability across 

our supply sources. We are also supporting 

our partners and suppliers, helping them to adopt 

a socially responsible approach, encouraging 

them in particular to continuously improve 

improving the way in which products are presented  

working conditions. 

through clear merchandising initiatives. 

GUARANTEE  
THE BEST PRICES  
EVERY DAY 
Offering you products at a fair price is an imperative.  

Our price policy is based on selling you products  

at low prices every day, together with more targeted  

special offers designed to increase your purchasing  

power. Every day, we work to make sure that you get  

the best prices, without compromising on quality. 

ENCOURAGE  
THE DEVELOPMENT  
OF LOCAL PRODUCTS 
The taste of regional products and being part  

of the local community are values we stand for.  
We therefore allow our store managers and  

their teams to tailor their product offer to suit  

their catchment area and your expectations.  

We establish solid links with local suppliers  

and encourage a direct relationship between you  

and producers. Our stores form an integral part  

of the communities in all the countries and regions  

in which the Group operates. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
27 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   27
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   27

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR PRODUCTS 

01 

FRESH PRODUCE
 

The excellence
 
of fresh produce
 

Fresh produce is  key to developing the attrac-
tiveness  of our stores  and as  such  it requires  all  
the attention and expertise of our employees.  In  
all of its store formats,  Carrefour offers  a wide  
selection of high-quality  fresh produce in  areas  
that  have  been  specially  designed  to  make  shop-
ping enjoyable:  large stalls, easy-to-reach prod-
ucts and regional products – all designed to  
please  our customers and support local eco-
nomic development. 

02 

A PASSION FOR 
FRESH PRODUCE 
This passion starts long before the products  
arrive in store and involves the whole supply  
chain,  ensuring that customers can get fresh  
produce  of  the  finest  quality  throughout  the  day.  
In  the warehouses, freshness is  monitored and  
checks are carried out to ensure that specifica-
tions are complied  with. The logistics teams  
ensure that products  are carefully and properly  
loaded  onto pallets and storage temperatures  
are monitored right up until dispatch. Once  
they  arrive in  store,  freshness and quality checks  
are carried out before they  go on display.  Two  
rules must  be  complied  with: shelves must  not  
be  overstocked but restocked often as  products  

lose  their  freshness  faster  at  room  temperature, 
and they  must  be  handled with  care. At  the fish  
or butcher’s counter – as is the case with all fresh  
product areas – it is  often the first impression  
that counts. In order to attract customers and  
encourage  them  to  make  purchases,  products  
must  be  fresh,  of the highest quality and impec-
cably presented. The shelves are continuously  
optimised to best stage the products and make  
people want to buy them. The store’s teams con-
stantly monitor the stalls  and react instantly  
whenever a customer has a query.  The skills  and  
expertise  of  our  employees,  bakers,  butchers, 
pastry makers and fishmongers all play their  
part  in  strengthening  Carrefour’s  commitment  
to quality. 

CONSTANT 
QUALITY AND FRESHNESS 
Sabine Forget – Fish counter manager at the Bomerée Carrefour hypermarket (Belgium) 

“Freshly-caught fish are delivered on a daily basis – except for Mondays, because people do not fi sh 
on Sundays. Freshness is essential and a number of checks are carried out to guarantee it. We can therefore 
be sure that our products are of high quality. Just like the service, in fact. We give our customers advice 
for all of the products. And the customers ask for more! They come back because they know that here 
they’ll get fresh products. Word-of-mouth does the rest.” 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
28 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   28
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   28

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR PRODUCTS 

03	 

05 

FRESH OR YOUR MONEY BACK 
In   June  2012,   Carrefour  set  a  milestone  by 
launching  its  “Freshness  Guarantee”  campaign  
in  its  hypermarkets  and  supermarkets  in  
France. Any customer who is not completely  
satisfied with the quality of a fresh product can  
come and exchange it within 72 hours or even  
get a refund if  they  have a Carrefour loyalty  
card. Information about this  guarantee is  on  
display in the centre of the market and fresh  
produce areas.  It  supports  Carrefour’s “more  
confidence  promise”  and shores  up the signifi-
cant  percentage of the Group’s turnover  that  
fresh products account for. It is also an effect ive  
means of managing the teams,  ensuring that  
the fresh products on display are always of the  
highest  quality. 

LOW PRICES 
Carrefour’s commitment to everyday low prices  
also applies to fresh produce. In Spain, Carrefour  
is  defending customers’ purchasing  power.  For  
example,  it is  offering people over the age of 65  
a 4%  to 8% discount  – the equiv  alent  of VAT –  
on more than 4,000 fresh products in stores  
throughout the  country.  The  scheme  is  designed  
to help the 7.9 million Spaniards over the age of  
65 to get the most  out of their budget. A similar  
scheme aimed at large families  has also  been  
introduced. Carrefour Marinopoulos  is  Greece’s  
largest retailer and is  offering a 10% discount  
on all fresh products to customers who have  
been   affected   by   the   economic   crisis.   These  
include large families, the elderly and the unem-
ployed. In supermarkets in France, the “Lowest  
Price Guarantee”  campaign  targets a selection  
of fresh products  every day:  a fruit,  a vegetable,  
a fresh/cured meat product, a fish and a cheese.  
Alongside  the  “Freshness   Guarantee”   cam-
paign, customers can be sure of getting high  
quality products  at the best  price. 

04 

01	  A meat counter employee 

at the Ortiz Carrefour market 
in Buenos Aires (Argentina). 

02	  Fruit & vegetables counter 

at the Carrefour hypermarket 
in São Caetano do Sul (Brazil). 

03	  Customer at the C/ Mellado 

Carrefour express convenience 
store in Madrid (Spain). 

04	  The “Freshness Guarantee” 

campaign aimed at hypermarket 
and supermarket customers 
in France. 

05	  Cheese counter employee 
at the Gurme supermarket 
in Istanbul (Turkey). 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
29 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   29
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   29

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR PRODUCTS 

01 

LOCAL PRODUCTS
 

A selection 
of local products 
for local needs 

Carrefour has always  given priority  to products  
sourced  locally,  i.e.  products  from  the  country  
in  which they  are sold. More than  75% of all  
Carrefour  food  products  come  from  local  sup-
pliers. Carrefour would like to strengthen this  
approach  and give its store managers  – particu-
larly  in  hypermarkets –  more  freedom  so  that  
they can select and offer their customers a very  
local selection of products  sourced from produc-
ers located close to stores. 

75%
 

of Carrefour’s food products  
come from local suppliers 

LOCAL PRODUCTS 
ON THE SHELVES 
In Turkey and in Argentina, for example, 100%  
of all food products come from national sup-
pliers. Carrefour is  supporting the growth  of  
thousands of SMEs and small producers, and  
is  avoiding  CO2  emissions related to importing  
the products. Carrefour is also fostering long-
lasting  relationships  with   local  companies,  
helping them to adopt high-quality growth  
strategies that benefit everyone. In Spain in 
2012, Carrefour invited more than  720 SMEs  
to  promote  their  products   in   its  stores.  In  
China,  the national  “Direct Purchase” pro-
gramme, which got under way in  2007, sets  out  
to  supply  stores  with  fresh  and  dried  fruit  
and  vegetables   without  any  intermediary  

02 

throughout  the  country,  i.e.  from  one  province  
to another,  and at local level,  within  the same  
province. The products are sold to customers  
at low prices, guaranteeing better returns to 
more than 1 million farmers since 2008. In  
order to strengthen this approach, Carrefour  
China  has  introduced  an  initiative  which  ena-
bles its customers to use their mobile phones  
to access  information about the traceability  of  
these products – from when they are first pro-
duced up until the date they are delivered to 
the store.  In  Belgium,  Carrefour’s teams select  
regional products made by producers within a  
50 km radius of the stores, showcasing them 
in a specially animated area at weekends. And  
in Taiwan, Carrefour identifies local products  
by stamping them with “MIT: Made  in  Taiwan”.  
This emphasis on local products in stores is  
based on a culture of quality and trust which  
Carrefour has built,  together with  knowledge of  
local  markets  which  store  managers   have  
acquired.  A  number  of  local  initiatives  also  
underpin   the  Group’s  commitment.  In  
June  2012,  for  example,  customers  from  the   
Lucques  hypermarket, in Italy, had free, guided  

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
30 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   30
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   30

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
OUR PRODUCTS 

05 

HIGH-QUALITY 
PRODUCT LINES 
“Carrefour  Quality Line” products  symbolise  
the Group’s CSR(1) approach. By entering into  
partnerships with small farmers, it is able to  
offer its customers high-quality fresh products  
at the best  possible prices. In  1992, a group of  
livestock farmers from France’s  Manche dépar-
tement  contacted Carrefour and asked it to help  
save the Normande  cow.  This  was the birth of  
the first “Carrefour  Quality Line”.  Twenty  years  
later,  partnerships  with  producers are  flourish-
ing  throughout  the  world.   Carrefour  has  
430 fresh core market products from these lines.  
The partnerships involve nearly 25,000  farmers  
and producers from the hearts of the regions in  
which the Group operates. Products include, for  
example,  Labrunier grapes  in  Brazil, trout from  
the Ardennes in Belgium, nectarines in Greece,  
potatoes in Romania and lettuce in Taiwan. The  
Group  contractually  commits  to  purchasing  
volumes in the long term. In return, the produ-
cers of our product lines commit to using sus-
tainable farming practices: they limit their use  
of pesticides and fertilisers in their crops, they  
do not grow  plant products  out of the ground  
and they  ensure that “Carrefour  Quality Line”  
products can be traced from the field to the fork.  
Carrefour is  a forerunner in  its commitment  
to giving impetus to the local economy and  
safeguarding  local  expertise,  while  providing 
customers with high quality at fair prices. 
(1) Corporate social responsibility. 

430
 

“Carrefour Quality Line” products  
as of the end of 2012 

03 

tours with the 50 fruit and vegetables farmers 
who  supply  the  store  every  day  with  fresh 
products. 

REGIONAL RANGES 
Carrefour  is  also  developing  its  ranges  of 
regional products. The Reflets de France brand, 
for example, showcases France’s gastronomic 
heritage  through  450  products  made  by 
178 French SMEs. In Italy, products in the Terre 
d’Italia range showcase local expertise, using 
traditional production methods and recipes. 
Another eight products were added to the range 
in 2012 from the Aosta Valley, the Piedmont 
region and Sicily. The brand also has its own 
dedicated website now, showcasing gastronomic 
traditions from the country’s various regions 
and featuring a number of traditional recipes. 
Carrefour has also opened a temporary store in 
the heart of Milan’s railway station. 

04 
01  Local suppliers on show in the store: 
“The vegetables that you are buying 
here were harvested from my plot 
24 hours ago.” Alcobendas Carrefour 
hypermarket in Madrid (Spain). 

02	  Using traditional methods or recipes, 
04	  Carrefour is increasing its ranges of 

fast-moving consumer regional products, 
such as Terre d’Italia and Reflets 
de France. 

03	  Carrefour promotes traditional local 
products on shelves to meet its 
customers’ expectations. 
Colisseo Carrefour hypermarket 
in Bucharest (Romania). 

05	  In 2012, Carrefour celebrated 20 years 
of “Carrefour Quality Line” products. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
31 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   31
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   31

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR PRODUCTS 

01 

02 

03 

EVERYDAY PRODUCTS
 

Major brands and 
the Carrefour brand 
at a fair price 

In the grocery, beverage and health & beauty 
departments, Carrefour offers a combination 
of products from consumers’ favourite brands 
and Carrefour brands. In all the countries in 
which  it  operates,  the  Group  applies  an 
aggressive strategy of everyday low prices and 
attractive discounts on the products that are 
popular with customers. 

CUSTOMERS’ FAVOURITE 
PRODUCTS 
Because consumers are often very attached to 
certain brands, Carrefour offers its customers 
the lowest prices on their favourite products, 
while also offering a wide and simple range 
of Carrefour-branded products. As drivers of 
innovation  and  business  growth,  national-
brand products make the stores dynamic and 

enjoyable places  to shop. Throughout the year,  
a number of sales initiatives such as “the anni-
versary month”  and “kids’ day”  brought excite-
ment to stores along with exclusive promotions  
on customers’ favourite products. Own-brand  

products  are segmented in  a way that meets 
customers’ basic needs: Carrefour products, 
which stand for quality and a fair  price;  BIO 
for organic products; Baby and Kids; or also  
ECOplanet, a range of products attesting to the  
Group’s commitment  to  protecting  biodiver-
sity   and  natural  resources.   Carrefour  also  
develops several specialised ranges, such as  
Viver in Brazil, Reflets de France and Terre 
d’Italia, and offers products with GMO-free  
and gluten-free labelling. 

“Choice, price and quality” 
Carrefour is working for you 
– At all its banners, Carrefour offers you a wide range of major brand and 
Carrefour-branded consumer products at the best prices. 
– Carrefour makes it easy for you to achieve a balanced and varied diet and 
commits to offering a selection of products that meet demanding and intangible 
quality standards. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
32 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   32
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   32

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR PRODUCTS 

06 

INNOVATIONS 
AT THE BEAUTY 
COUNTER 
In 2012, Carrefour launched 
a new beauty product brand, 
Les Cosmétiques Design Paris, 
a clear and attractive range 
of 650 professional-quality 
references at low prices: 
between 20% and 35% less 
than competitors’ prices for 
similar products. The fi ve ranges 
composing this brand meet all 
the needs of the female consumer: 
professional make-up, basic care 
items, a natural range and expert 
skin and haircare products. 
After three of the products were 
recognised in the Victoires de la 
Beauté awards in October 2012, 
the five Pro’s foundations and 
three Age Science skin lotions 
were voted Products of the Year 
for 2013. 

01	  A customer at the Carrefour Colisseo 
hypermarket of Bucharest (Romania). 

02	  From nappies to formula, Carrefour 
offered in 2012 a new range of over 
140 products developed with experts, 
paediatricians and nutritionists 
for babies’ comfort and parents’ 
peace of mind. 

03	  A pioneer in organic products, 
Carrefour now offers over 
2,000 organic food references. 

04	  A customer at the Ortiz Carrefour 

market in Buenos Aires (Argentina). 

05	  The “Lowest Price Guarantee” 
campaign covering more than 
500 major brand products. 

06	  Carrefour commits to offering 
consumer products at the best 
prices at all its stores. The Carrefour 
hypermarket of São Caetano do Sul 
(Brazil). 

04 

05 

WINNING BACK 
PURCHASING POWER 
Low prices  promised  – and delivered – through-
out  2012.  In   January,   the  “Lowest  Price  
Guarantee” applied at all French hypermarkets  
set the stage for a successful  initiative. The prices  
of  over  500   products  from  the  most  popular   
brands  (biscuits,  sodas,  etc.)  were  reduced  below  
the market rate, and customers were guaranteed  
to receive double the difference if they found a  
product at a lower price anywhere within 15  km  
of the store.  At  the end of May 2012, Carrefour  
extended  its “Lowest Price Guarantee”  pledge to  
100 major brand organic products. These com-
mitments  demonstrate  Carrefour’s aim for an  
offensive approach to prices over the long term, 
which boosts its customers’ purchasing power. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
33 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   33
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   33

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR PRODUCTS 

01 

NON-FOOD PRODUCTS
 

A simple 
but attractive offer 
with great deals 

The non-food  counters  are organised into cat-
egories meeting customers’ basic needs: small  
household goods,  textiles, home appliances  
(photo equipment, DVDs, sound and multi-
media equipment). Carrefour products and the  
major  brands  make  up  an  offer  that  has  some-
thing for everyone and every budget. As con-
sumer habits change, Carrefour is adapting its  
offer and working on value for money and the  
style of its non-food  products, increasing the  
generalist   dimension   of   its   hypermarkets,  
offering supermarket customers the local ser-
vices they  expect  and developing an  innovative  
and competitive offer on the Internet. 

1.4 million
 

unique visitors on average
  
to the French non-food website
  
every week in 2012
 

FUN COLLECTIONS 
FOR THE HOME 
Combining permanent products and seasonal  
lines,  Carrefour offers  collections for the gar-
den, DIY,  entertainment,  stationery, toys  and  
linens.  In  the  autumn,  the  “Lowest  Price  
Guarantee”   campaign   covered  300  school-
supply items and,  to bring customers a magical  
Christmas,   the  guarantee  was  extended   to 
200  toys from major brands such as Playmobil,  
Hasbro  and  Mattel.  Counters  such  as  dinner-
ware, DIY and automotive supplies regularly  
launched  promotions  on  top-name  brands,  that  
considerably   increase   footfall.   Carrefour  is  
gradually recategorising its products by usage  
and  clarifying  the  offer  to  meet  customers’ 
expectations,  and  offering  exclusive  products  
such  as  the Tokyo garden furniture set and the  
4-in-1 kitchen accessories set, as well as a new  
range of Carrefour ECOplanet toys  made  from  
FSC certified wood. 

02 

03 

01	  Book counter at the Carrefour 
hypermarket of Auderghem 
(Belgium). 

02	  Customers in the textile counter 
of the Carrefour hypermarket 
of Nice Lingostière (France). 

03	  The “autumn/winter Tex collection” 

(France) 

04	  Young customers in the multimedia 

counter of the Carrefour 
hypermarket in Bomerée (Belgium). 

05	  Customers in the stationery counter 
at the Carrefour hypermarket 
in São Caetano do Sul (Brazil). 

06	  An employee of the Istinye 

Carrefour store in Istanbul (Turkey). 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
34 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   34
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   34

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR PRODUCTS 

05 

06 

CARREFOUR’S APPROACH 
TO TEXTILES 
Tex,  Carrefour’s  textile  brand,  has  always  
offered simplicity, quality and timeless  basics  
and has been very successful. In addition to the  
permanent  product  lines,  such  as  underwear 
and baby textiles, for which the banner has a  
certain legitimacy, Carrefour also  offers  spring/ 
summer a  nd a  utumn/winter s  easonal c  ollec-
tions which, in  2012, were popular in  France,  
Brazil  and  Argentina.  The  “100%  cashmere 
sweater for €69”  initiative, organised in  record  
time in  secret, won over Carrefour customers  
all over France. Sales periods,  with  their incred-
ible prices, attract great numbers of customers  
to the textile counter.  For Carrefour’s textile  
offer,  the winning formula consists  of guaran-
teeing quality products at the best prices, intro-
ducing trends and offering services. 

HOME APPLIANCES 
AND MULTIMEDIA 
Carrefour is  re-designing its offer to better meet  
the needs of its customers and their new con-
sumer habits. The in-store offer focuses on lead-
ing  products  presented  in  pleasant  spaces  with 
expert  sales staff and quality services  such  as  
delivery  and installation. Small and large home  
appliances,  TV/audio/photo/GPS,  multimedia,  
telephone equipment and accessories also fea-
ture low prices  throughout the year  and are 
promoted   by   wide-reaching   campaigns.  
Customers were delighted by the many promo-
tional offers introduced at European stores in  
honour of the Euro 2012 football champion-
ship. Digital tablet  computers were the leading  
product of the year  2012, with  sales growing  
significantly. 

04 

MORE SERVICES  FOR LESS 
Carrefour Mobile and Orange teamed up in France 
and launched a commitment-free mobile plan with 100 minutes 
of calling or 500 text messages for less than €5 per month. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
35 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   35
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   35

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
OUR PRODUCTS 

CARREFOUR’S
 

TRADE SERVICES
 

Carrefour offers 
complementary 
products to go with 
daily purchases 

From financing solutions and entertainment 
to pharmacy products and petrol, Carrefour 
services are available in the shopping centre 
and store car parks to meet customer needs 
with the same commitment: quality products 
at the best price. 

CARREFOUR’S BANKING 
AND FINANCIAL SERVICES 
Carrefour offers  its customers financing,  sav-
ings and insurance solutions at 824 agencies  
and financial services  stands  around the world.  
Operating  close  to  the  hypermarkets,  the  
stands  support Carrefour’s core business, in  
particular by offering the PASS card as well as  
financing solutions and warranty  extensions  
for equipment. 
In  2012, Carrefour Soluções  Financeiras,  pre-
sent at 144 stores in Brazil, signed a partnership  

2.4 million
 

customers have
  
the PASS card in France
 

with Itaú Unibanco, the biggest private bank  
in the country. It was an immediate success,  
with over 1 million cards issued, bringing its  
portfolio to nearly 7.6 million cards by the end  
of 2012. As  in  the other countries,  Carrefour  
Argentina’s financial services  actively support  
store  sales  by  offering   customers  attractive 
plans such as the interest-free 30-installment  
payment in  honour  of the banner’s  30th anni-
versary. In Taiwan, the partnership Carrefour  
signed with E. Sun Bank, one of the country’s  
largest banks, made it possible to expand oper-
ations, in  over 60  stores, and to introduce new  
advantages like the option of paying for trans-
port  with  the Carrefour card. 
In  France,  Carrefour  Banque  launched  a  sav-
ings account with one of the best rates on the  
market as well as a mobile application to man-
age accounts remotely. Carrefour Banque is 
continuing  to  develop  a  credit  offer  with  a   
responsible approach, paying particular atten-
tion to ensuring that its customers’ budgets are  
properly balanced and that they do not run the  
risk of incurring excessively high levels of debt.  
Carrefour  Banque  also  provides  expertise  in  
banking transactions, with  over 372 million 
transactions  processed  in  France  in  2012. 

01 

“Savings, petrol, 

entertainment”
 

Carrefour is working for you 
– Savings for all: Carrefour Banque 
offers a savings account with one 
of the best rates on the market. 
– Petrol at the best price: nearly 
200 petrol stations at French 
hypermarkets have offered 
the “Lowest Price Guarantee”. 
– Affordable getaways: 
Carrefour Voyages celebrates 
its 20th anniversary and opens 
10 new agencies in France. 

YOU CAN VISIT 
CARREFOUR BANQUE’S 
WEBSITE AT 
www.carrefour-banque.fr 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
36 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   36
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   36

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR PRODUCTS 

05 

06 

02 

03	 

04 

01	  Carrefour Banque agency 

at the Mondeville hypermarket (France). 

02	  Pharmacy staff at the Carrefour 

hypermarket in São Caetano do Sul 
(Brazil). 

03	  A petrol station at the Alcobendas 
04	  Carrefour hypermarket in Madrid 
(Spain) and the “Lowest Price 
Guarantee” campaign on fuel 
in France. 

05	  Carrefour Voyages has 108 agencies 
in France and over 400 in Spain. 

06	  In France, customers can also rent 
a utility vehicle through “Carrefour 
Location” vehicle hire service. 

DAILY SHOPPING TASKS 
Reserving  theatre  tickets,  buying  flowers,  
printing photos  or renting a truck for a move:  
Carrefour services, which differ depending on  
the country and consumer habits, make it easy  
for customers to optimise their shopping time  
and budget and thus enhance their loyalty to  
Carrefour. 
Customers  greatly  appreciate   being  able  to  
travel at Carrefour prices, especially in  times 
of crisis. In  France, Carrefour Voyages celeb-
rated its 20th anniversary and opened 10 new  
franchised agencies at shopping centres or in 
city centres, bringing the network to 108 agen-
cies throughout the country. In Spain, over  
400 Carrefour Viajes agencies and a new high-
quality website now allow customers to travel 

with  peace of mind at low prices. 
Price is always a concern when it comes to fill-
ing  up  the  petrol  tank.  Where  possible,  
Carrefour  installs  petrol  stations  at  its  hyper-
markets and supermarkets. For example, there  
are currently 83 petrol stations in Brazil, 102  
in Spain and 25 in Italy. In France, nearly 200  
hypermarket   petrol   stations   committed   in  
May  2012  to  offering  the  “Lowest  Price  
Guarantee” on fuel (excluding LPG): if the cus-
tomer finds a lower price the same day at a 
competing  petrol  station  within   a  range  of 
5 km, Carrefour will refund double the differ-
ence  on a full  tank. The low-price strategy  was  
continued,  with  fuel  oil  offered  at  cost  price  in  
France  for three months. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
37 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   37
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   37

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR PRODUCTS 

Carrefour and its suppliers are committed  
to promoting responsible sourcing. 
For the past twenty years, the Group has been optimising its responsible sourcing strategy at  
global level to reduce its impact on the ecosystem and biodiversity, and to increase the economic  
sustainability of  its operations. Carrefour helps its thousands of  suppliers apply  an  approach  based  
on  sustainable development. From  forest management  to  fishing and organic agriculture,  from  
the issue of GMOs to the specifications for “Carrefour Quality Line” products, the Group helps  
build sustainable networks and promotes high-quality, affordable and responsible consumption. 

SEE PAGE 60 FOR THE CSR INDICATORS 
AND MORE INFORMATION AT www.carrefour.com 

A FEW INITIATIVES
 

CARRIED OUT IN 2012
 

SUPPORTING 
OUR SUPPLIERS 
Carrefour is the only retailer to make a sustain-
able development  self-assessment tool available  
to its suppliers. Now backed by the ISO 26000  
standard, it has been rolled  out in  the Group’s  
12 countries and is available online in 15 lan-
guages. Developed  with  WWF and Ademe(1), it  
consists  of  questions  covering  49  criteria  and 
also   includes   a   carbon   assessment.   In   2012,  
6,940 suppliers had access to the tool. 
(1) French energy-management agency. 

6,940
 

suppliers had access to the sustainable  
development self-assessment tool in 2012 

PROTECTING 
BIODIVERSITY 
Convinced of the need to take action to protect  
forests,  which play  a key role in  the fight against  
climate change, Carrefour has been dedicated  
since  1997  to  implementing  a  comprehensive 
strategy on responsible sourcing. The Group  
has committed to an approach that aims to  
protect  biodiversity,  natural  resources  and  
 forests,  which has led to concrete  action. For  
example,  100%  of the paper used  for catalogues  
in  Europe  is  FSC(2)  or PEFC(3)  certified,  90%  
of own-brand garden furniture and decorative  
elements in Argentina use FSC wood, and palm  
oil is  being replaced  by sustainable oil,  benefit-
ing consumers and helping the Group reach 
the goal of using only sustainable palm oil in  
its  own-brand  products   by  2015.  In   2012,  
Carrefour  Indonesia  launched   a  Carrefour  
ECOplanet cooking oil,  the first RSPO(4)  certi-
fied  sustainable  palm  oil  in  the  country.  

Carrefour  has  also  developed  a  “Wood 
Charter” for its European suppliers to ensure 
that their supply is legal and that they respect 
human rights. The Group is now rolling out 
this  initiative  outside  Europe.  Carrefour 
ranked no. 1 among retailers in WWF France’s 
2012 wood monitoring report. 
(2) Forest Stewardship Council. 
(3) Programme for Forest Certification. 
(4) Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
38 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   38
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   38

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
OUR PRODUCTS 

01 

02 

03	 

04 

01	  Carrefour is committed to offering 
own-brand garden furniture and 
decorative items of FSC-certified wood. 

02	  Suppliers must sign the Social 

and Ethical Charter before working 
with Carrefour. 

03	  The Carrefour ECOplanet range 

consists of products obtained using 
methods protecting biodiversity 
and natural resources. 

04	  Carrefour offers a wide range 

of fair-trade products. In France, 
the stores offer 548 SKUs, including 
115 from own brands. 

IMPROVING 
LABOUR STANDARDS 
The Group maintains a proactive policy aimed  
at ensuring that all of its suppliers comply with  
the principles  of human rights. It  requires  that  
suppliers  of  own-brand  products   sign   the  
Social  and Ethical Charter before the working  
relationship begins, and calls for regular social  
audits. In 2012, 1,044 social audits were con-
ducted  worldwide and all of Carrefour’s sup-
pliers  signed  the  charter.  Carrefour  also  applies  
a preventive strategy of assisting its suppliers  
in  a  progress-based  approach,  in  particular  
through training. Carrefour also works with  
other large retailers to harmonise audit meth-
ods and shares its results. 

THE “BOULE BIO” 
CELEBRATES ITS 
20th ANNIVERSARY 
In 1992, Carrefour became 
the first French retailer to offer 
an organic product made in-house: 
the “Boule Bio” bread. Today, 
organic products are available at 
Carrefour stores in all of the 
Group’s countries. Carrefour also 
continues its promotional actions 
aimed at affordable responsible 
consumption for all. As the main 
retailer of organic products 
in France, Carrefour also made 
a price commitment in 2012 with 
its “Lowest Price Guarantee” 
on 100 organic products from 
the most popular major brands. 
At the crossroads of consumer 
trends focused on healthy, 
natural, local and eco-friendly 
products, organic products have 
a future at Carrefour. 

1,044
 

social audits  
conducted in 2012 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
39 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   39
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   39

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
a smile makes
 
all the difference
 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   40
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   40

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
knowing yourself
 
and recognising others
 

our employees 

working for you
means using our 
employees’ dedication 
and expertise to meet 
your every need 

being able to count
 
on the employees
 
for help is priceless
 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   41
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   41

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
OUR EMPLOYEES 

our priorities
 

embody
the retail spirit  
and commit to	  
responsible trade 

The  365,000  Carrefour  
employees   around   the  
world are the leading asset  
of  the Group,  which has  
committed to strengthening 
its customer-centred approach and improving the performance of its men and women 
to bring out their retail talents. Training, development, empowerment and diversity 
– these are the commitments that allow each employee to contribute to Carrefour’s  
ambition  and satisfy our customers every day. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
42 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   42
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   42

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
 
 
OUR EMPLOYEES 

INSTILL THE RETAIL 
SPIRIT AND A SENSE 
OF INITIATIVE 
We are reinvesting in the fundamental principles 

of trade: buying and selling. You are about 

to rediscover Carrefour. We have a passion 

for the products, enthusiasm for contacts with 

our customers and a sense of service. We simplify 

our employees’ work, train them and assist them 

every day so that they are more available to help you 

and answer your questions. We will encourage 

initiatives that make you want to shop at our stores. 

GUARANTEE 
KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER 
AND PREPARE 
THE MANAGEMENT 
OF TOMORROW 
To help employees get back to the basics of 
the business and take initiative, we are investing 

in training, field experience and work/study training. 

Experienced employees are called upon to identify 

ENCOURAGE 
THE DEVELOPMENT 
OF FAIR AND 
RESPONSIBLE TRADE 
Informing and training our employees 

to ensure responsible trade is a key commitment 

for the company. Their actions to help vulnerable 

populations and disaster victims and their solidarity 

work have always added a little extra heart 

potential in their teams, share their knowledge 

to Carrefour retailers. 

of the business and help prepare the management 

of tomorrow, respecting and promoting diversity 

among our staff. 

EMPOWER 
THE STORES FOR 
YOUR SATISFACTION 
We go back to reality on the ground, where 

the battle over every product and every price 

takes place every day. We are decentralising 

our organisation according to the principle 

of subsidiarity: autonomy and rigour at each level 

of our organisation. Store employees, beginning 

with the store manager, are listening to you to adapt 

the offer to your expectations and the prices to local 

competition. We encourage referencing local 

products and fully integrating the local community 

through meetings to better assess your 

expectations, communicating with regional media 

and supporting sport clubs and local associations. 

PROMOTE 
OUR EMPLOYEES’ 
PROFESSIONAL 
DEVELOPMENT 
In addition to the product offer, prices, stores 

and service, you expect Carrefour to listen 

to your needs and be attentive. Happy employees 

mean happy customers, so we do everything 

we can to promote their well-being. 

Listening, an ongoing social dialogue, a respectful 

work environment and proper compensation are 

levers for our staff performance and for the trust 

you have in them. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
43 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   43
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   43

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR EMPLOYEES 

Develop the passion 
for retail 

Working at Carrefour means being in direct 
contact with customers on a daily basis. Every 
day at the stores, team spirit, the passion for the 
products  we  sell,  the  sense  of  service,  the 
respect of others and initiatives make all the 
difference, for true, authentic relations and to 
give customer satisfaction. In addition to this, 
the Carrefour retailer is distinguished from the 
others thorough detailed knowledge of the local 
context, from producers to competing stores. 

CAREERS FOR ALL 
Carrefour has nearly 120 generalist and spe-
cialist  jobs,  almost  90%  of  them  involving  
direct contact with customers. For all the busi-
ness  lines,  the passion for retail, the sense of 
human  relations,   the  attention  paid  to  co-
workers and customers and the commitment  
to doing one’s job well are fundamental char-
acteristics necessary for working at Carrefour.  
The banners hire sales employees, checkout 
employees, butchers, fishmongers, sector man-
agers and store managers. And all along the 
logistics chain,  a variety of expertise is  needed,  
including supplier, order picker, team  manager,  
dock manager and quality inspector. 
With this wide range of jobs, the Group gives  
everyone a chance and opens its doors to talents  
of all kinds: young or senior, man or woman,  
with  or without a degree, experienced or begin-
ner. In all the countries in which it operates,  
Carrefour  implements   initiatives  benefiting 
people  excluded  from  the  workforce,  such  as  
the operational employment preparation, in  

01 

02 

which job seekers can receive training from 
Carrefour in  the business  lines of its stores. 
Since  its  introduction  in   2011,  Carrefour  
France  has trained over 112 people, 93 of them  
hired with permanent contracts. Promoting 
employment  for young people is  also  a key part  
of Carrefour’s strategy. Every year, it hires 1,400  
young people in  a work/study  training  course  
in  Brazil  and  Spain,  4,000  young  people  in  pro-
fessionalisation   or   work/study   situations   in  
France  and sponsors  young graduates from 
disadvantaged  neighbourhoods  in  France  to 
support them in their search for employment. 

DIVERSITY IS A SOURCE 
OF STRENGTH 
As signatory of the Diversity Charter since 2004,  
the Carrefour group works actively to fight dis-
crimination. It promotes employment for young  
people, encourages  people with  disabilities  to  
enter the workforce,  supports  seniors and strives  
to ensure gender equality at the workplace. 
In  2012, Carrefour France  trained its hypermar-
ket managers  in  interview practices to ensure in  
particular that principles of objectivity and non-
discrimination are applied in the hiring process.  
In   Brazil,  the  banner  launched   a  diversity 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
44 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   44
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   44

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR EMPLOYEES 

04 

01	  An employee of the Alcobendas 
Carrefour hypermarket in Madrid 
(Spain). 

02	  An employee of the Carrefour market 

in Tongeren (Belgium). 

03	  An employee with customers 

of the Guangzhou Xinshi Carrefour 
store in Canton (China). 

04	  Employees of the C/ Mellado 

Carrefour express convenience store 
in Madrid (Spain). 

05	  An employee of the Carrefour market 

in Tournefeuille (France). 

03 

05 

programme with  the goal  of developing respect,  
integration,  acceptance  of  all,  and  encouraging  
initiatives designed  to offset  inequalities. 
In  all its countries,  Carrefour promotes  work-
place  gender  equality.  For  example,   the  
“Women Leaders” programme aims  to increase  
the presence of women in management teams  
throughout the world.  Women represent 57%  
of Carrefour staff and 35.7% of its manage-
ment. In  2012, this  proactive programme led  
to wide-reaching local initiatives such as the 
hiring of only women graduates for executive  
positions  in   merchandise  and  logistics  in  
Argentina. The Group also supports employ-
ment for workers with disabilities, with nearly  

10,100 disabled employees at its various entities  
at   the   end   of   2012.   Together   with   the  
International  Labour   Organisation  (ILO),  
Carrefour has committed to promoting the 
employment   of  people  with   disabilities  
throughout  the  world.  Carrefour  also  operates  
locally and works in close partnership with 
local players such as Ekon in Poland and Once  
in Spain for the recruitment at its stores and 
warehouses. 

TRAINING FOR BETTER 
PERFORMANCE 
Listening,  advising and selling are key skills  for  
someone in  the retail  business, and Carrefour is  
dedicated to developing them through training  
offered at all stages of its employees’ careers: 
training before and after beginning a new posi-
tion with  integration paths for new arrivals  that  
help them learn the corporate culture,  training  
during their career to develop their skills, and  
special programmes to prepare for and support  
career development. In  total, nearly 5 million  
hours of training  were provided  in  2012, or an  
average of 17.1  hours of training  per employee. 

93.6%
 

of our employees have  
permanent work contracts 

LOCAL JOBS 
The variety of jobs available and the priority given to local recruitment make the Carrefour group 
a key player for people seeking to enter the workforce in the areas in which it operates. 
All around the world, the Group encourages recruitment as close to its stores as possible and develops 
innovative recruitment methods. In France, for the opening of the new Lyon Confl uence hypermarket, 
Carrefour launched a local recruitment campaign to create its team composed of store employees 
and assistants, checkout staff and managers. All told, nearly 420 candidates in Lyon and surrounding 
areas were interviewed, and 140 were hired by the store, over 85% of them with permanent contracts. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
45 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   45
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   45

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR EMPLOYEES 

In France, over 30% of all employees hired do  
not have a diploma,  and a large majority  of them  
has completed less than two years of university  
studies.  Carrefour facilitates access  to validation  
of prior experience  for those who are interested  
to allow them to obtain a certification. The intro-
duction of trade employee  or logistics officer  
professional   certificate   schemes   also   allow  
employees without diplomas to undergo training  
and earn  a certificate that is  recognised  in  the  
profession. Where possible, the Group tries to  
roll out similar schemes in other countries. Since  
2012,  Carrefour  has  been  offering  training 

resulting  in  a  diploma  in  Romania,  Italy,  Poland  
and Belgium, where the “Carrefour Academy”  
allows  store  department  assistants  and  managers  
to obtain  business  unit manager diplomas. 
Offered by Carrefour since 2008, the “EvoluPro”  
training allows  employees experiencing diffi-
culty  with  the  French  language  to  acquire  the  
basics with one day of training per week over  
nine months, financed by the company. In the 
2011-2012 session, 240 employees completed  
training. Carrefour also offers training to its  
employees to improve their management skills,  
mastery  of  computerised  tools,  management  of  

fresh products  and skills  in  customer relations.  
The Group relies in particular on training-
referent stores and experienced employees to  
transmit  the  knowledge,   best   practices  and 
expertise of their business lines. In France and  
Spain,  for  example,  an  internal  franchisee   
recruiting scheme was introduced. It is based  
on  the  transfer  of  expertise  and  ongoing  
technical and business assistance. 

01	  Financing stand employees 

at the Carrefour hypermarket 
of São Caetano do Sul (Brazil). 

02	  An employee of the Tien Mou 
Carrefour hypermarket 
in Taipei (Taiwan). 

03	  An employee of the C/ Principe 
de Vergara Carrefour market 
in Madrid (Spain). 

03 

01 

02 

TALENT 
AND CAREER MANAGEMENT 
With a large number of jobs and an international 
presence, Carrefour offers a wide range of career 
paths and real opportunities for mobility. 
Leveraging the skills acquired by its employees 
and implementing a proactive training strategy, 
Carrefour promotes career development for its 
employees. The Group set up “career committees” 
at all levels of the organisation to identify talent, 
opportunities for career development and succession 
plans. Employees also express their desires in terms 
of career development and training during offi cial 
interviews with their supervisors. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
46 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   46
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   46

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR EMPLOYEES 

02 

01	  Employees at the Colisseo Carrefour 
store in Bucharest (Romania). 

02	  An employee at the Carrefour market 

in Tongeren (Belgium). 

03	  Employees at the Carrefour 

hypermarket in La Chapelle Saint-Luc 
(France). 

01	 

03 

Promoting employee 
confi dence 

To  provide  customers  with  quality  service, 
form bonds with them and make them want to 
come back to Carrefour, employees must first 
feel comfortable in their career, position and 
team. So, the Group has introduced an effective 
work  organisation  scheme  that  respects 
employee needs. 

BALANCING WORK 
AND PERSONAL TIME 
Carrefour is  committed to upholding interna-
tional principles of human rights and labour  
rights in all the countries in which it operates,  
and to ensure that its suppliers also  comply.  
Furthermore,  the Group strives to find balance  
between the performance of its organisation  
and its employees’ well-being. For this reason,  
where possible, Carrefour aims to increase the  
number   of  hours  worked   by  its  part-time 

employees, who represent less than 24% of its  
total staff. In French hypermarkets, part-time  
employees now work a minimum of 30  hours  
per week, with the exception of workers with  
student contracts.  Employees may also  move  
toward   full-time   employment  with  our   job-
versatility initiative in  which they  perform a  
part of their work in another department of the  
store or in  another position and thus  develop  
new  skills.  By  the  end  of  2012,  nearly  1,300 
employees,   92%  of   them  women,  had  taken 
advantage  of  the  job-versatility  scheme  at  
French  hypermarkets.  The  pooling  of  work 
schedules also allows checkout employees to  
plan  their  worktime  in  accordance  with  their  
wishes  and the store activity. This  organisation,  
which was launched  in  France  in  1998, is  now  
in use at over 200 hypermarkets, and testing  
began in  2012  in  Belgium. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
47 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   47
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   47

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR EMPLOYEES 

01 

01	  A Carrefour drive employee at the 

La Chapelle Saint-Luc hypermarket 
(France). 

02	  An employee at the Santo Amaro 
Carrefour bairro supermarket 
in São Paulo (Brazil). 

03	  An employee at the Ortiz Carrefour 
market in Buenos Aires (Argentina). 

04	  Employees at the Guangzhou Xinshi 
Carrefour hypermarket in Canton 
(China). 

05	  An employee at the Carrefour market 
supermarket in Tongeren (Belgium). 

its employees. I  n Sp 

As  a signatory of the Parenthood  Charter in  
2008, the Carrefour group is  committed to tak-
ing concrete action in this area to help create  
optimal conditions for 
ain,  
for example,  employees now have the possibility  
of  adding  annual  leave  to  parental  leave.  In   
Poland, employees had the opportunity to par-
ticipate  in  time-management  training  to  help  
them  organise  and  plan  their  activities  more  
effectively.  In  France, other provisions  related  
to  parental  issues  were  adopted.  These  include 
a pilot programme of inter-company daycare  
centres   in   certain   cities   covering   several  
supermarkets. 
Carrefour also strives to ensure the health and  
safety of both its employees and customers. In  
addition  to meeting regulatory  requirements,  
the Group mobilises its employees on hygiene  
and  safety  rules,  provides  accident-prevention  
training,  launches  awareness-raising  campaigns  
and conducts  regular audits  of its facilities. In  
Spain,  for  each  workstation,  Carrefour  drew  up  
a list of the protective equipment necessary for  
the  employee’s  safety  and  offered  specific  train-
ing courses in  risk  prevention. For several years,  
the Carrefour group has also  been pursuing an  
approach  aimed  at  preventing  workplace  psy-
cho-social risks and strives to end musculo-
skeletal  problems  by  introducing,  for  example,  
ergonomic equipment at its French hypermar-
kets   and   supermarkets   to   limit   handling  
operations. 

CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE 
Carrefour earns the trust of its employees by  
truly listening to their needs and working with  
them to ensure optimal working conditions.  
This  also  promotes  individual  and  collective  
progress.  Individually,  in   every  country  in  
which the Group operates, each employee is  

invited to express their wishes in terms of pro-
fessional development or training in an annual  
meeting with  their manager.  For more than  
twenty years now, Carrefour has been regularly  
surveying its employees in the various countries  
to  take  stock  of  their  expectations  and  views 
regarding key subjects. These include the “lis-
tening to employees” surveys, “focus  groups”,  
Internet   surveys   in   France   and   Italy   and  
“encuesta  compromiso”  in  Argentina.  Targeted  
action plans are then implemented to increase  
employees’  commitment.  In  2012,  the  “HR 
Fundamentals” were rolled  out with  the goal  of  
giving store managers and their managers the  
tools they need to excel in the areas of hiring,  
orienting new employees and managing careers.  
The  social  dialogue  is  part  of  Carrefour’s  cor-
porate  culture.  The Group is  a pioneer in  terms  
of union representation at all levels  of the com-
pany. In  2012, social  dialogue continued at an  
active level.  In  Turkey, a new three-year  collec-
tive agreement on pay increases was negotiated  
and signed. In France, the mandatory annual  
negotiations  gave rise  to new benefits  for hyper-
market, supermarket and logistics employees.  
In  Poland, 138 “open house”  events  were held  
to  allow  union  representatives  to  meet  with  
Carrefour  employees.  In  Belgium,  three  new  

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
48 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   48
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   48

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR EMPLOYEES 

collective labour agreements were signed. They 
concerned work organisation, price reductions 
and  the  payment  of  non-recurring  benefits 
related to performance. At European level, the 
dialogue continued and developed within the 
Carrefour  European  Consultation  and 
Information Committee among the European 
social  partners  and  Carrefour’s  General 
Management. 

MOTIVATING COMPENSATION 
AND BENEFITS 
Carrefour  offers  each  employee  the  opportunity  
to  develop  their  skills  and  rise  up  in  the  com-
pany  through special training programmes  and  
professional  development  schemes.  The Group  
offers attractive, fair compensation in line with  
the local practices of each market, as well as  
appealing benefits that are essential to their  
well-being. French  employees,  for example,  have  
the chance  to participate in  mandatory and dis-
cretionary profit-sharing plans. In the same  
spirit,  a  discretionary  profit-sharing  system 
dedicated to the stores and merchandise was  
launched  in  Brazil  in  2012  to  recognise  employ-
ees who made  a decisive contribution to profit-
ability.  All of Carrefour’s employees in  China  
will  be  eligible for a discretionary profit-sharing  

plan  in  2013.  The  Group  also  encourages  
employees to save  by  offering a Group savings  
plan  with  six diversified funds,  one of which  
aims  to  develop  employee  shareholding.  At   
December  31,  2012,  Group  employees  held 
1.17% of the company’s share capital through  
the Group employee savings plan. In each of the  
countries, employee benefit schemes adapted to  
local practices were also introduced. In this way,  
Carrefour  helps  improve  the  daily  life   of  its 
employees  and  their  families,  in  particular 
though  mutual  health  insurance  or  discounts  
on purchases.  Some programmes  throughout  
the world also allow employees to take advant-
age of discounts and advantages  at Carrefour  
stores  or those of other banners,  like  in  Belgium  
with  the “For You”  club  and its employee  card.  
Other complementary initiatives strengthen the  

02 

04 

03 

05 

bonds  among  employees.   For  example,   the 
“Carrefour Life” programme in Spain offers  
activities for employees and their families. In  
2012, over 600 children of  employees enjoyed  
the summer camps held in various Spanish vil-
lages with  sport or nature as  special themes. In  
Taiwan, nearly 2,000  employees participated  in  
the first cycling relay race between stores cover-
ing almost 2,000 km in 45 days. The “Carrefour  
Taiwan Sport Day” offered a truly Olympic day  
to  all  the  country’s  teams  while  the  latest  
“Carrefour  Taiwan  Family  Day”  once  again   
delighted  employees’  families. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
49 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   49
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   49

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR EMPLOYEES 

Carrefour and its employees are committed  
to being a socially-responsible retailer  
for local communities. 
The Group is committed to solidarity initiatives, thanks to the energy of its employees and the  
high performance of its distribution logistics in all the countries in which it operates. In all the  
districts, cities, regions and countries in which Carrefour is present, the Group shows its solidar-
ity by  carrying  out social and humanitarian  initiatives. At  the level of  each  country,  these are  
conducted through its stores or dedicated facilities while at international level they are handled  
by Carrefour’s corporate foundation. To reduce exclusion, Carrefour organises and coordinates  
donation  campaigns and consumer-good  collection  drives, supports the opening of  social gro-
cery stores, assists with the development of farm production, promotes food-industry careers  
and contributes humanitarian aid to people in emergency situations. 

MORE INFORMATION ON THE CARREFOUR FOUNDATION S SOLIDARITY INITIATIVES 
AT www.fondation-carrefour.org 

’

A FEW INITIATIVES
  

CARRIED OUT IN 2012
 

FOOD SOLIDARITY 
Food  is  Carrefour’s core business. Th  e Group  
plays  a  key  role  in   food   donations  through-
out the world.  In  Belgium,  Spain and France,  
fresh  products   withdrawn  from  the  shelves  
are  donated  to  local  organisations  such  as  
food  banks.  In  2012,  350  tonnes  of  products   
in  Belgium  and  1,200  tonnes  in  Spain  were  
collected  and  donated.   In   Taiwan,  Carrefour  
and  its  corporate  foundation  were  the  exclu-
sive sponsors of the food-aid programme “De-
liver warmth in winter” launched by the Tai-
wanese Red Cross for the Chinese New Year.  
With  the participation of employees from 26  
stores, the team  was able to serve a real  holi-
day  meal   to  over  1,000   disadvantaged  fami-
orts  
lies. In A  rgentina, Carrefour notably supp
particularly  the  food  bank  foundation  in  its   

nutrition   e  ff orts.   Over   €200,000   have   been  
invested,  with   support  from  the  Carrefour  
Foundation,  in  the  renovation  and  outfi tting  
of a 2,350  sq. m warehouse opened  in  2012  for  
the purpose of storing,  sorting and distribut-
ing food to the disadvantaged. In response to  
the social  issues  surrounding food, Carrefour,  
through  its  corporate  foundation,  also   sup-
ports the development of social grocery stores.  
A  place  for  sharing  and  interacting,   social  
grocery  stores  off er everyday  products  to the  
disadvantaged at between 10% and 50% of the  
usual  price.  Working  to  end  exclusion  with-
out  increasing  dependence  on  social  welfare, 
they   off er   benefi ciaries  a  choice  of  products  
and promote a sustainable return to the work-
force.  Th  e majority  of these stores’ staff   are  in  
fact  former  benefi ciaries. 

CUSTOMERS’ GENEROSITY 
Carrefour encourages its customers to join in  
socially-responsible initiatives.  In  2012, for the  
fourth  year  in  a  row,  Carrefour  France  was   
involved in the Restos du Cœur’s annual collec-
tion drive.  Result: 1,850 tonnes  of food, or a  
third of the total volume, were collected in  two  
days   thanks   to   the   support   of   3,000   Group  
employees,  the  organisation’s  volunteers  and  the  
generosity  of customers.  In  Spain,  customers  

83.44 million
 

meal equivalents were provided to the  
various food-aid networks in 2012  
(donations and collection drives in France) 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
50 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   50
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   50

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
 
 
OUR EMPLOYEES 

01	  The Carrefour Foundation coordinates and relays food 

and non-food donation campaigns and collection drives. 
Collection drive benefiting food banks at the 
Boulogne-Billancourt Market supermarket (France). 

02	  Carrefour Argentina and the Carrefour Foundation 

helped local populations of the Buenos Aires region that 
were victimised by the torrential rains of April 2012. 

03	  The Carrefour Foundation supports food-industry training 

programmes for people facing social exclusion. 
In China, the “Shanghai Young Bakers” programme 
aims to train disadvantaged young people in French 
bread and pastry-making techniques. 

01 

02	 

03 

were invited to participate in a collection drive  
benefiting the Spanish food  bank  federation  
(FESBAL), which assists 1.3 million disadvan-
taged people through its network of 52  food  
banks.  For the new school year  in  the autumn,  
Carrefour  encouraged  the  customers  of  169 
Spanish  hypermarkets  to  donate  and  matched  
their  funds.  The  initiative  raised  the  equivalent  
of  €395,000  in  school  supplies  for  the  Spanish  
Red Cross and allowed it to provide supplies to  
16,000  disadvantaged schoolchildren. At  the  
same time, Carrefour France  invited its hyper-
market customers to donate their old bookbags  
and backpacks. It gives them to the cooperative  

Le Relais, a member of Emmaüs France, which	 ­
refurbishes them and provides them to disad-	
vantaged  children.	

EMERGENCY AID	 
As a local actor, Carrefour assists humanitarian	 
organisations and its customers in the event	 
of natural or industrial disasters. Key to the 
success of these efforts are the Group’s logistics	 
expertise and the involvement of its employees,	 
warehouses   and  shippers,  who  join   in   by 	
shipping aid supplies. Thanks to its capacity to	 
respond quickly and the material  resources it is	 
able to mobilise, basic products can be shipped	 

to victims in  just  a few hours.  Whether it’s  a local  
initiative by a store, a   nationwide c  ommitment  
of Carrefour or an  international action of the  
Carrefour Foundation, solidarity is a mobilising  
force.  In  2012, Carrefour Italy encouraged  its  
customers to help the victims of the earthquake  
in   Emilia-Romagna.   They   were   invited   to  
exchange loyalty points  for €5  donations,  with  
the value matched by Carrefour Italy.  In  total,  
nearly  €740,000   were   collected  and  over  
€1.4 million donated. In China, in July 2012, the  
region of Beijing experienced the most deadly  
and destructive flooding it had seen in more  
than 60 years. Carrefour China teamed up with  
the 
local  government  of  Fangshan  
to assist victims in the first few hours of the  
d  isaster. The initiative was supported by the  
Foundation through a specific contribution.  
The contribution made it possible to send basic  
food  products  (milk,  rice,  dry  goods,  water)  
and  non-food  products  (hygiene  products,  anti-
septics)   and  to  provide  25,000   victims  with  
thermoses, electric kettles and water purifiers. 

OVER €720,000   
TO BENEFIT CHILDREN 
In June 2012, the second “Boucles du Cœur” event attracted over 300,000 customers and employees from 
800 Carrefour stores of all formats throughout France. Together, they organised 210 events featuring sports 
competitions or tastings of regional products, and stimulated a great deal of generosity which allowed 
to collect over €720,000 – to which the Carrefour Foundation added €200,000 – to benefit the organisations 
“SOS Villages d’Enfants” and “Fête le Mur”, which serve children in need. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
51 

1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   51
1304091_RA_CARREF_24-51_GB.indd   51

06/05/13   12:19
06/05/13   12:19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
­
­
­
­
­
­
­
­
­
­
	
managed, targeted
 
investments
 
for sustainable growth
 

1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   52
1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   52

06/05/13   12:30
06/05/13   12:30

 
 
improving performance
 
is our foremost responsibility
 

our performance 

working for you
means making 
the commitment  
to create value every 
day, sustainably 
and responsibly 

a worldwide presence
 
and local responsibility
 

1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   53
1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   53

06/05/13   12:30
06/05/13   12:30

 
 
OUR PERFORMANCE 

our priorities
 

restore our success  
and profitability  
to give ourselves 
the means needed  
for our development 

Investing  in  prices  and  in  
the  renovation  of  the  store  
network is the Group’s top  
priority. This entails gen-
erating resources for our  
development by increasing efficiency and lowering costs, while, at the same time,  
improving your  shopping experience in our stores. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
54 

1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   54
1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   54

06/05/13   12:30
06/05/13   12:30

OUR PERFORMANCE 

ENSURE PROFITABLE 
SALES GROWTH 
While aiming to make our businesses 

more profitable, every effort is made to increase 

our sales by proposing attractive commercial offers, 

continuing to expand our store network and 

developing new distribution channels. 

REMAIN DISCIPLINED 
AND STRENGTHEN OUR 
FINANCIAL STRUCTURE 
The resources generated by the divestment 

of assets in 2012 are enabling the Group 

to strengthen its financial structure by reducing its 

debt. In addition, Carrefour constantly strives 

to control its working capital requirements 

and costs by spending less and spending more 

wisely at every level of the company. 

INCREASE OUR  
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES  
IN A MANAGED,  
TARGETED WAY  
In order to pursue our multi-local and multiformat  

development, we concentrate our resources  

in countries where we have strong strategic  

positions, we give ourselves the means  

to achieve our objectives and we adapt  

our investments in expansion. We will thus  

CONTINUE  
TO IMPROVE  
OUR ENVIRONMENTAL  
AND SOCIAL  
PERFORMANCE 
By making sustainable development a focal point  
of our business model – in our sourcing,  

our products, our packaging, our stores and  

our human resources – we are in a strong position  

to consistently be a more responsible company and  

allocate more resources to renovating our stores,  

to generate sustainable growth that benefits  

particularly in France. 

all stakeholders. 

SIMPLIFY OUR  
OPERATING METHOD 
The company’s governance at every level  

– from the Group to the store – must evolve  

in order to be more effective. It is time to return  

to simple organisational principles and facilitate  

decision-making processes through  

decentralisation and giving responsibility  

to the store employees. This operating method will  

increase efficiency while limiting unnecessary  

and wasteful spending. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
55 

1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   55
1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   55

06/05/13   12:30
06/05/13   12:30

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR PERFORMANCE 

Financial overview 

The growth of the business in 2012 was driven by strong demand and expansion in emerging markets, particularly in 
Latin America. Current operating income held steady despite a difficult economic environment in most of the mature 
countries in which the Group operates, especially in southern Europe. The Group significantly improved its financial 
structure, with net debt of €4.3 billion at the end of 2012, down by €2.6 billion. 
In accordance with IFRS 5, income and expenses relating to discontinued operations (Greece, Singapore, Colombia, 
Malaysia, Indonesia) were reclassified on the “Net income of discontinued operations” line of the consolidated income 
statement in 2011 and 2012. 

FIND MORE INFORMATION IN THE “PERFORMANCES” SECTION
 
AT www.carrefour.com
 

Net sales 

€76,789 million 

+0.9% COMPARED WITH 2011 

Sales rose by 0.9% compared with 2011 at current exchange rates.  
At constant exchange rates, growth was 1.6%, driven by emerging  
markets, particularly in Latin America. The contribution of emerging  
markets (Latin America and Asia) increased significantly in 2012,  
accounting for 26.8% of sales (25.4% in 2011). The growth in sales  
stemmed from a 1% increase in like-for-like sales, an expansion-related  
contribution of 0.6% and a negative effect of exchange rate changes  
of 0.7%. In France, sales rose by 0.5%, with strong performance  
in food sales. Sales in Europe declined by 2.7% at constant exchange  
rates (–3.1% at current exchange rates), reflecting the decrease  
in consumption, particularly in southern Europe. Sales in Latin America  
rose by 12.1% at constant exchange rates (4.6% at current exchange  
rates), driven by strong like-for-like performance. Sales in Asia grew  
by 0.5% at constant exchange rates (+10.3% at current exchange  
rates), driven by ongoing expansion. 

76,789 

76,067 

2011 

2012 

NET SALES 
(IN €M) 

6,400 

14,174 

20,873 

35,341 

France 

Europe (excl. France) 

Latin America 

Asia 

2012 NET SALES 
BY GEOGRAPHIC REGION (IN €M) 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
56 

1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   56
1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   56

06/05/13   12:30
06/05/13   12:30

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR PERFORMANCE 

Current operating income 

Net income, Group share
 

€2,140 million 

–2.6% COMPARED WITH 2011 

€1,233 million
 

x 3.3 COMPARED WITH 2011 

Current operating income amounted to €2,140 million,
 
stable at constant exchange rates and down by 2.6% at current
 
exchange rates, and represented 2.8% of sales, compared with 2.9%
 
in 2011. The improvement in France and the significant growth
 
in Latin America nearly offset the declining profitability of operations
 
in southern Europe.
 

Net income, Group share, was €1,233 million, up sharply compared 
with €371 million in 2011. Net income from recurring operations, 
Group share, amounted to €113 million. Net income from discontinued 
operations, Group share, was €1,120 million, which mainly stemmed 
from the disposals completed in 2012. 

2,197 

2,140 

1,233 

1.81 

2011 

2012 

CURRENT OPERATING INC OME 
(IN €M) 

929 

608 

509 

168 

–74 

France 

Europe (excl. France) 

Latin America 

Asia 

Global functions 

2012 CURRENT OPERATING INCOME 
BY GEOGRAPHIC REGION (IN €M) 

Net debt 

€4,320 million 

–37% COMPARED WITH 2011 

371 

0.56 

2011 

2012 

NET INCOME, 
GROUP SHARE (IN €M) 

2011 

2012 

NET INCOME, GROUP SHARE, 
PER SHARE (IN €) 

2011 

113 

2012 

– 1,865 

NET INCOME FROM 
RECURRING OPERATIONS, 
GROUP SHARE (IN €M) 

2,237 

1,120 

2011 

2012 

NET INCOME FROM 
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, 
GROUP SHARE (IN €M) 

6,911 

4,320

2011 

2012 

NET DEBT 
(IN €M) 

The Group’s net debt decreased by €2.6 billion from €6.9 billion at the end of 2011 to €4.3 billion  
at the end of 2012, mainly as a result of income from disposal of the Group’s operations in Colombia and Malaysia. 
The net debt to EBITDA ratio improved significantly at 1.2 x (1.8 x in 2011). 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
57 

1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   57
1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   57

06/05/13   12:30
06/05/13   12:30

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR PERFORMANCE 

Stock market overview 

At December 31, 2012, Carrefour shares were in 22nd position in the CAC 40 index 

in terms of market capitalisation, with a weighting of 1.6%.


FIND MORE INFORMATION IN THE “PERFORMANCE” SECTION
 
AT www.carrefour.com
 

Capital 

Blue Capital(1) 

66,556,464 

9.38% 

130,604,274 

16.23%

Number of  
shares 

In % 

Number of  
voting rights 

In % 

Colony Blue Investor(2) 

15,166,771 

2.14% 

15,166,771 

CZ2 Blue SARL(3) 

Blue AIV SARL(4) 

860,148 

0.12% 

176,691 

0.02% 

860,148 

176,691  

Groupe Arnault SAS(5) 

2,656,752 

0.37% 

2,656,752 

1.88%

0.11%

0.02%

0.33% 

3.15% 

BUNT(6) 

Subtotal 

Employees 

Shares owned 

Controlled shares 

Public 

Total 

25,370,250 

3.58% 

25,370,250 

110,787,076 

15.62% 

174,834,886 

21.73% 

8,267,870 

1.17% 

15,258,370 

1.90%

6,147,949 

0.87% 

584,011,758 

82.35% 

614,531,681 

76.37% 

709,214,653 

804,624,937

(1) of which 2,508,612 Carrefour shares held through assimilation under a purchase option. 
As of December 31, 2012, Blue Capital held 65,302,137 shares granted double voting rights. 
(2) held through assimilation of Carrefour shares loaned by Colony Blue Investor SARL with right of recall at its sole option. 
(3) held through assimilation of Carrefour shares coming from the part of purchase option with cash issue (as of December 31, 2012). 
(4) held through assimilation of Carrefour shares that can be acquired by Blue AIV SARL under a purchase option. 
(5) held through assimilation of Carrefour shares that can be acquired under a purchase option. 
(6) former Blue Participations et Gestion of which 24,999,996 shares held through assimilation of Carrefour shares that can 
be acquired under a purchase option 

Blue Capital, a Société à Responsabilité Limitée (limited-liability company) under Luxembourger law, Colony Blue Investor,
 
a Société à Responsabilité Limitée (limited-liability company) under Luxembourger law, CZ2 Blue, a Société à Responsabilité
 
Limitée (limited-liability company) under Luxembourger law, Blue AIV, a Société à Responsabilité Limitée (limited-liability
 
company) under Luxembourger law, Groupe Arnault, a Société par Actions Simplifiée (joint-stock company) and BUNT,
 
a Société à Responsabilité Limitée (limited-liability company) under Luxembourger law have declared that they are acting in concert.
 

709,214,653 
shares 

at December 31, 2012 

€13,720 million 

in market capitalisation 

Dividend

€0.58 

per share 
The Board of Directors decided to  
submit for approval at the  
Shareholders’ Meeting to be held  
on April 23, 2013 a dividend  
of €0.58 per share for the year  
ending December 31, 2012, payable  
in cash or in Carrefour shares.  
The proposed dividend amounts to  
a payout ratio of 45% of net income,  
Group share, adjusted for exceptional  
items, in line with the policy set out  
in March 2012. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
58 

1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   58
1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   58

06/05/13   12:30
06/05/13   12:30

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
­
­
 
OUR PERFORMANCE 

Carrefour stock
 

Quoted price(1) (in €) 

highest 

lowest 

at December 31 

2008(2)

 2009(2)

 2010(2) 

2011 

2012

52.52 

33.79 

41.28 

24.68 

27.52 

22.89 

33.56 

30.85 

30.85 

36.08(2) 

31.52(3) 

15.07 

17.62 

19.63 

13.07 

19.35 

Number of shares on December 31 

704,902,716  704,902,716  679,336,000  679,336,000  709,214,653 

Market capitalisation on December 31 
(in billions of €) 

19.4 

23.7 

21.0 

12.0 

13.7 

Average daily volume 

4,168,131 

2,927,925(4) 

2,874,196(4)  3,935,400(2)(4) 

3,239,839(4) 

Net income from recurring 
operations per share (in €) 

Net dividend (in €) 

Yield 

1.83 

1.08 

0.56 

1.08 

0.56 

1.08 

0.52 

(3.35) 

0.17 

3.92% 

3.22% 

3.50% 

2.95% 

(1) Source: NYSE Euronext. 
(2) Data not adjusted for distribution-in-kind on July 5, 2011 (Dia). 
(3) Data adjusted for distribution-in-kind on July 5, 2011 (Dia). 
(4) Average daily volume on Euronext. 
(5) Subject to approval by the shareholders at the General Meeting of April 23, 2013. 

Carrefour 2012 share price performance (base 100) 
in relation to the CAC 40 index, BEFOODR(1) index and Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index(2) 

120 

110 

100 

90 

80 

70 

60 

jan. 

feb.  march 

april 

may 

june 

july 

august 

sept. 

oct. 

nov. 

dec. 

Carrefour 

Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index 

CAC 40 

BEFOODR 

(1) Bloomberg Europe Food Retailers index (BEFOODR):  Ahold, Carrefour, Casino, Colruyt, Delhaize, Dia, Sainsbury, Jeronimo Martins, Kesko OYJ, 
Metro, Morrison, Tesco. 
(2) Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index (SXRP):  Ahold, Groupe Booker, Carrefour, Casino, Celesio, Colruyt, Debenhams, Delhaize, Dia, Dufry, Galenica, 
H&M, Inchcape, Inditex, Jeronimo Martins, Kesko, Kingfisher, Marks & Spencer, Metro, Morrison, Next, PPR, Sainsbury, Tesco. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
59 

Share information 

Principal stock exchange:   
Euronext Paris Compartment A 
ISIN  code: FR0000120172 
Nominal value: €2.50 
 Main indices: CAC 40, SBF 120,  
FTSE Eurotop 100, Stoxx Europe 
600 Retail Index 
Ticker symbol:  CA 
Reuters code:  CARR.PA 
Bloomberg code:  CA : FP 
Eligible for PEA/SRD: yes/yes 

Contacts 

Carrefour 
Investor relations 
33, avenue Émile Zola 
TSA 55 555 
92649 Boulogne-Billancourt cedex 
Tel.: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 00 
investisseurs@carrefour.com 

Carrefour 
Shareholder relations 
33, avenue Émile Zola 
TSA 55 555 
92649 Boulogne-Billancourt cedex 
Toll-free number for shareholders 
in France: 

Number for shareholders outside 
France: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 00 
actionnaires@carrefour.com 

Registered shareholders 
CACEIS Corporate Trust 
Investor relations 
14 rue Rouget de Lisle 
92862 Issy-les-Moulineaux 
cedex 09 
Tel.: +33 (0)1 57 78 34 44 
Fax: +33 (0)1 49 08 05 80 
ct-contact@caceis.com 

0.58(5) 

3.00% 

115.23 
109.82 
108.83 

92.93 

1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   59
1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   59

06/05/13   12:30
06/05/13   12:30

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
OUR PERFORMANCE 

CSR overview 

An assessment of extra-financial performance is essential and supplements the analysis of the financial results. 

It is an indicator of Carrefour’s ability to anticipate and manage risks and opportunities related to its business. 

The Group, whose overall performance is assessed by rating agencies and SRI investors, maintains an ongoing, 

transparent dialogue with extra-financial rating agencies, SRI index groups, investors and insurance companies.

In 2012, the Carrefour group was included in the leading socially responsible investment indices: 

Aspi Eurozone (Vigeo – France), DJSI World (Dow Jones – United States), ECPI Ethical Index Euro (ECPI – Italy, 

Luxembourg), ECPI Ethical Index Global (ECPI – Italy, Luxembourg), Ethibel Excellence Europe (Ethibel – Belgium),  
Ethibel Excellence Global (Ethibel – Belgium), FTSE4 Good Global (FTSE – Great Britain). 

FIND MORE INFORMATION ON CSR INDICATORS IN THE 2012 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT
 
AND AT www.carrefour.com
 

Product indicators 

Number of controlled 
or

ganic food references 

2,004

* units	 

Since 1992, Carrefour has been committed  
to making the largest possible number  
of organically grown products available  
to its customers. The Group has developed  
a wide range of organically grown products  
based on a production method that helps  
to protect the environment. 

Sales (incl. VAT) of	 
“Carr

efour Quality Line” products

€940 

million 

The “Carrefour Quality Lines” are the result  
of work with suppliers and contribute
  
to the economic and social development  
of the regions in which the Group operates.  
This approach is also based on food safety  
and traceability from the farm to the fork,  
for the benefit of customers and consumers.  
At the end of 2012, Carrefour offered 430*  
products from these lines around the world. 

Number of own-brand  
fair trade products (certified  
by an independent body based o
r
LO, ESR, et
ecognised criteria: F

n 
c.) 

115

* SKUs

Fair trade products are primarily distributed
  
in five countries, mainly in Europe, where
  
demand is concentrated. In France,
  
Carrefour is one of the key players in this
  
market, offering 548 items, 115* of which
  
are own-brand products. 

1,998  2,004* 

908 

927 

940 

1,201 

115* 

100 

77 

2010 

2011 

2012	 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
60 

1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   60
1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   60

06/05/13   12:30
06/05/13   12:30

 
 
 
 
 
 
­
­
­
­
­
­
 
	 
OUR PERFORMANCE 

Human resources indicators 

Employees 

364,969* 

At the end of 2012, Carrefour employed 
364,969 people in 12 countries(1), over 29% 
of whom worked in France. Nearly 93.6% 
of employees have a permanent work contract 
and 23.5% work part-time. Carrefour’s 
workforce consists of 88.7% employees, 
10.7% managers, 0.5% directors and 0.1% 
senior directors. 

Women in management 

Employee training 

35.7% 

Carrefour is a company committed to diversity, 
with women making up 57% of its workforce 
and nearly 36% of managerial staff, an increase 
of 5.6% since 2009. The Group has launched 
initiatives to increase the percentage of women 
in company management. 

5.0* 

million training hours 

provided during the year 

Carrefour’s Human Resources aim to develop 
the skills of its employees, enabling them 
to grow within the company. In total, 5.0 million 
hours of training were provided in 2012, 
an average of 17.1 hours of training 
per employee during the year. 

371,003 

364,969* 

19.7 % 

33.8 

34.0 

34.6 

35.7 

5.5 

5.4 

5.3 

5.0* 

23.7 % 

56.6 % 

2011 

2012 

Europe 

Latin America 

Asia 

EMPLOYEES 
BY GEOGRAPHIC REGION 

Data on a comparable 
BU basis (100% 
of 2012 consolidated 
net sales). 

Data on a comparable 
BU basis (84% 
of 2012 consolidated 
net sales). Excluded: 
Brazil hypermarkets 
and supermarkets. 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

Disabled employees 

Rate of internal promotion 

2.8% 

Carrefour is increasing its efforts to promote 
the employment of people with disabilities 
in countries where it operates, both through 
recruitment as well as through working 
conditions within the company. At the end 
of 2012, nearly 10,100 disabled employees 
worked at the Group’s entities. 

51.2%
 

With over 120 jobs and an international presence, 
Carrefour offers a wide range of career paths 
and real opportunities for mobility. The Group’s 
goal is to develop internal promotion by ensuring 
that employee development is based on 
performance and the ability to take on new 
responsibilities, along with the company’s needs. 
More than 50% of managerial staff have been 
promoted internally. 

2.6 

2.4 

2.6 

2.8 

48.5 

51.2

Data on a comparable 
BU basis (100% 
of 2012 consolidated 
net sales). 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2011 

2012 

* 2012 data verified with a moderate level of assurance 
by the statutory auditor KPMG Audit in the Registration 
Document/Carrefour’s Social Responsibility Chapter/Indicators. 
(1) Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, China, France, India, Italy, 
Poland, Romania, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
61 

1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   61
1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   61

06/05/13   12:30
06/05/13   12:30

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR PERFORMANCE 

Environmental indicators 

Energy consumption (electricity, gas, fuel) 
in integrated stores 

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions linked 
to the energy consumption of integrated stores 

573 kWh/sq. m 

of sales area 

–8.7% COMPARED WITH 2009 

Given that the stores’ energy costs total more than half a billion euros 
per year, reducing energy consumption is one of the cornerstones 
of the Group’s plan to prevent waste and a key factor in reducing 
the company’s energy dependence. Carrefour continues to strive to reach 
its goal of improving energy efficiency by 30% by 2020 (per sq.m. 
of sales area as compared with 2004). By 2012, the Group had already 
reduced energy consumption in its stores by 24.6%. 

187 eq. kg CO2/sq. m 

of sales area 

–10.3% COMPARED WITH 2009 

Reducing the environmental impact of its business operations is 
a priority for Carrefour, which aims to reduce its stores’ CO2 emissions 
(scopes 1 and 2 of the GHG Protocol) by 40% by 2020 (as compared 
with 2009) in four European countries (France, Belgium, Spain, Italy). 
A 24.9% reduction had been achieved by the end of 2012. 

628 

619 

596 

573 

208 

205 

192 

187 

Data on a comparable BU basis 
(83% of 2012 consolidated net sales). 
Excluded: Brazil hypermarkets and supermarkets. 

Data on a comparable BU basis 
(83% of 2012 consolidated net sales). 
Excluded: Brazil hypermarkets and supermarkets. 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

Quantity of refrigerants refilled following leaks 

38.1 kg/1,000 sq. m 

of sales area 

–35.0% COMPARED WITH 2009 

Refrigerants used to run the refrigeration systems represent the 
second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions generated by the 
stores’ activity. Carrefour set a goal to reduce the rate of refrigerant leaks 
and to phase out hydrofluorocarbon-based refrigerants in its new facilities 
as from 2015, replacing them with natural or more environmentally-
friendly refrigerants. 

Quantity of water consumed 

1.72 cu. m/sq. m 

of sales area 

–6.8% COMPARED WITH 2009 

The activities that consume the largest amount of water in the stores 
are the food preparation rooms (meat, fish, etc.) and the bathrooms. 
The stores are gradually implementing solutions to limit their consumption. 
In 2012, water consumption in the Group’s stores was 16.7 million cu. m. 

58.6 

47.4 

40.0 

38.1 

1.85 

1.82 

1.77 

1.72 

Data on a comparable BU basis 
(76% of 2012 consolidated net sales). 
Excluded: Brazil, Argentina, Taiwan hypermarkets 
and Brazil, Argentina, Turkey supermarkets. 

Data on a comparable BU basis 
(92% of 2012 consolidated net sales). 
Excluded: Belgium and Argentina hypermarkets 
and supermarkets. 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
62 

1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   62
1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   62

06/05/13   12:30
06/05/13   12:30

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR PERFORMANCE 

Share of recycled waste 

63.9% 

of waste 

+5.5% COMPARED WITH 2010 

Wherever it operates, the Group has a structured organisation 
for managing its waste for recovery purposes. Cardboard, the primary 
source of waste in stores, is sorted in all countries. The sorting of other 
materials (plastic, metal, glass, biowaste, etc.) is organised based 
on the collection systems and continues to grow each year. 

Quantity of paper purchased 
for commercial publications 

17.8 kg/sq. m
 

of sales area 

–11.1% COMPARED WITH 2009 

Carrefour has a responsible global sourcing policy and promotes 
responsible forestry management. For its commercial publications aimed 
at consumers, the Carrefour group is reducing the weight of its 
documents and has made a commitment to use paper in Europe made 
entirely from 100% recycled wood fibres or from forests under certified 
management. In 2012, 99% of the paper used by the Group for 
commercial publications was recycled or certified – 100% for Europe. 

61.2 

62.1 

63.9 

20.1 

19.7 

19.9 

17.8 

Donations included.
 
Data on a comparable BU basis (79% of 2012
 
consolidated net sales). Excluded: Brazil, Argentina,
 
Turkey hypermarkets and Brazil, Argentina supermarkets. 

Data on a comparable BU basis 
(100% of 2012 consolidated net sales). 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

Number of free disposable plastic checkout bags 
purchased for the stores 

103 

million bags 

–50.0% COMPARED WITH 2009 

CO2 emissions per shipping unit 

6.9 kg of CO2 

per pallet 

–12.5% COMPARED WITH 2009 

Carrefour pledged to gradually stop distributing free disposable plastic 
checkout bags by the end of 2012. From 2009 to 2012, the number 
of disposable plastic bags provided free of charge at checkout fell 
by 50% (per sq. m of sales area). At present, only Argentina, Brazil 
and Turkey still provide them. At the Group level, more than 1.4 billion 
disposable plastic checkout bags have been saved since 2009. 

In 2012, the Group continued to optimise logistics in an effort to limit 
its environmental impact and reduce its carbon footprint. Carrefour 
is working with its partners to develop innovative ways to reduce 
the number of kilometres travelled, favour more environmentally-friendly 
means of transport and improve the environmental performance 
of its warehouses. 

206 

141 

122 

103 

7.8 

7.0 

7.0 

6.9 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

Data on a comparable BU basis 
(100% of 2012 consolidated net sales). 

Data on a comparable BU basis (82% of 2012 
consolidated net sales). Excluded: Brazil and India 
hypermarkets and supermarkets. 
CO2 emissions calculated based on kilometres travelled 
(1 litre of fuel consumed = 2.6667 kg of CO2 emitted) 
to transport merchandise between the warehouses 
and stores. Shipping unit = 120x80 pallet. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
63 

1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   63
1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   63

06/05/13   12:30
06/05/13   12:30

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR PERFORMANCE 

Consolidated financial  
statements 

The 2011 comparative information presented in this report has been restated to reflect the reclassification

of certain operations in accordance with IFRS 5 – Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations.
 
These restatements are described in note 4 in the 2012 Registration Document – Consolidated financial statements chapter.

The consolidated financial statements are presented in millions of euros, rounded to the nearest million.

As a result, there may be rounding differences between the amounts reported in the various statements.


Consolidated income statement 

(in millions of euros) 

Net sales 

Loyalty programme costs 
Net sales net of loyalty programme costs 

Other revenue 
Total revenue  

Cost of sales 
Gross margin from recurring operations 

Sales, general and administrative expenses 

Depreciation, amortisation and provisions 
Recurring operating income 

Non-recurring income and expenses, net 
Operating income/(loss) 

Finance costs and other financial income and expenses, net 

Finance costs, net 

Other financial income and expenses, net 

Income/(loss) before taxes 

Income tax expense 

Net income from companies accounted for by the equity method 
Net income/(loss) from continuing operations 

Net income from discontinued operations  
Net income for the year 

Group share 

of which net income/(loss) from continuing operations 

of which net income from discontinued operations 

Attributable to non-controlling interests 

2012 

76,789 

(662) 

76,127 

2,333 

78,460 

(61,523) 

16,937 

(13,249) 

(1,548) 

2,140 

(707) 

1,434 

(882) 

(486) 

(396) 

552 

(388) 

72 

235 

1,081 

1,316 

1,233 

113 

1,120 

83 

2011(1) 

% change 

76,067 

(810) 

75,257 

2,224 

77,481 

(60,673) 

16,809 

(13,060) 

(1,552) 

2,197 

(2,337) 

(140) 

(705) 

(462) 

(243) 

(845) 

(931) 

64 

(1,713) 

2,116 

404 

371 

(1,865) 

2,237 

33 

0.9% 

(18.3%) 

1.2% 

4.9% 

1.3% 

1.4% 

0.8% 

1.4% 

(0.3%) 

(2.6%) 

– 

– 

25.1% 

5.2% 

63.1% 

(165.2%) 

(58.3%) 

13.0% 

(113.7%) 

– 

225.9% 

232.2% 

(106.1%) 

– 

154.5% 

(1) Restated, see note 4 in the 2012 Registration Document – Consolidated financial statements chapter. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
64 

1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   64
1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   64

06/05/13   12:30
06/05/13   12:30

 
  
 
­
­
­
­
OUR PERFORMANCE 

Basic earnings/(loss) per share 

(in euros) 

Earnings/(loss) from continuing operations per share 

Earnings from discontinued operations per share 

Basic earnings per share – Group share 

Diluted earnings/(loss) per share 

(in euros) 

Diluted earnings/(loss) from continuing operations per share 

Diluted earnings from discontinued operations per share 

Diluted earnings per share – Group share 

Calculation details are provided in note 15 in the 2012 Registration Document – Consolidated financial statements chapter. 

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 

(in millions of euros) 

Net income for the year 

Effective portion of changes in the fair value of cash flow hedges(2) 

Changes in the fair value of available-for-sale financial assets(2) 

Changes in currency translation adjustment(3) 
Other comprehensive income after tax 

Total comprehensive income 

Group share 

Attributable to non-controlling interests 

2012 

0.17 

1.65 

1.81 

2012 

0.17 

1.64 

1.81 

2011(1) 

% change 

(2.83) 

3.39 

0.56 

na 

na 

221.8% 

2011(1) 

% change 

(2.83) 

3.39 

0.56 

2012 

1,316 

6 

7 

(192) 

(180) 

1,136 

1,061 

75 

na 

na 

221.6% 

2011(1) 

404

(14)

(2)

(324) 

(340) 

64

72

(9)

(1) Restated, see note 4 in the 2012 Registration Document – Consolidated financial statements chapter. 
(2) Presented net of the tax effect (see note 16 in the 2012 Registration Document – Consolidated financial statements chapter for details). 
(3) The decrease (€192 million) in the currency translation adjustment in 2012 mainly reflects the decline in the Brazilian and Argentine currencies against the euro during the period. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
65 

1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   65
1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   65

06/05/13   12:30
06/05/13   12:30

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR PERFORMANCE 

Consolidated statement of financial position 

ASSETS 

(in millions of euros) 

Goodwill 

Other intangible assets 

Property and equipment 

Investment property 

Investments in companies accounted for by the equity method 

Other non-current financial assets 

Consumer credit granted by the financial services companies – long term 

Deferred tax assets 
Non-current assets 

Inventories 

Trade receivables 

Consumer credit granted by the financial services companies – short term 

Other current financial assets 

Tax receivables 

Other assets 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Assets held for sale(2) 
Current assets 

TOTAL ASSETS 

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 

(in millions of euros) 

Share capital 

Consolidated reserves and income for the year 
Shareholders’ equity – Group share 

Shareholders’ equity attributable to non-controlling interests 
Total shareholders’ equity 

Long-term borrowings 

Provisions  

Consumer credit financing – long term 

Deferred tax liabilities 
Non-current liabilities 

Short-term borrowings 

Suppliers and other creditors 

Consumer credit financing – short term 

Tax payables 

Other payables 

Liabilities related to assets held for sale(2) 
Current liabilities 

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 

2012 

8,608 

801 

11,509 

513 

384 

1,125 

2,360 

752 

26,052 

5,658 

2,144 

3,286 

352 

520 

795 

6,573 

465 

19,793 

45,844 

2012 

1,773 

5,714 

7,487 

874 

8,361 

8,983 

4,000 

1,966 

580 

15,528 

2,263 

12,925 

3,032 

1,040 

2,422 

273 

21,955 

45,844 

2011(1) 

8,740 

966 

13,771 

507 

280 

1,433 

2,236 

745 

28,676 

6,848 

2,782 

3,384 

911 

468 

969 

3,849 

44 

19,254 

47,931 

2011(1) 

1,698 

4,919 

6,617 

1,009 

7,627 

9,513 

3,680 

419 

586 

14,198 

2,159 

15,362 

4,482 

1,319 

2,785 

0 

26,106 

47,931 

(1) Restated, see note 4 in the 2012 Registration Document – Consolidated financial statements chapter. 
(2) Assets held for sale and related liabilities correspond: 

– in 2011, to shares in the Altis Group which was accounted for by the equity method in 2010 (see note 3 in the 2012 Registration Document – Consolidated financial statements chapter),
 

and certain assets in Italy;
 

– in 2012, to assets and liabilities related to Indonesia (see note 4 in the 2012 Registration Document – Consolidated financial statements chapter) and Singapore, and certain assets in France and Italy. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
66 

1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   66
1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   66

06/05/13   12:30
06/05/13   12:30

 
 
 
 
OUR PERFORMANCE 

Consolidated statement of cash flows 

(in millions of euros) 

INCOME/(LOSS) BEFORE TAXES 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 

Taxes  
Depreciation and amortisation expense 
Capital (gains)/losses on sales of assets 
Change in provisions and impairment 
Dividends received from companies accounted for by the equity method 
Impact of discontinued operations 
Cash flow from operations  

Change in working capital requirement(2) 
Impact of discontinued operations 
Net cash from operating activities (excluding financial services companies) 

Change in consumer credit granted by the financial services companies 
Impact of discontinued operations 
Net cash from operating activities 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES 

Acquisitions of property and equipment and intangible assets   
Acquisitions of financial assets 
Acquisitions of subsidiaries(3) 
Proceeds from the disposal of subsidiaries(4) 
Proceeds from the disposal of property and equipment and intangible assets 
Proceeds from the disposal of investments in non-consolidated companies 
Change in amounts receivable from and due to suppliers of fixed assets 
Investments net of disposals 

Other cash flows from investing activities   
Impact of discontinued operations(5) 
Net cash from/(used in) investing activities 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES 

Proceeds from share issues to non-controlling interests 
Acquisitions and disposals of investments without any change of control(6) 
Dividends paid by Carrefour (parent company) 
Dividends paid by consolidated companies to non-controlling interests 
Change in treasury stock and other equity instruments  
Change in current financial assets 
Issuance of bonds 
Repayments of bonds  
Other changes in borrowings 
Impact of discontinued operations 
Net cash from/(used in) financing activities 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents before the effect of changes in exchange rates 

Effect of changes in exchange rates 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 

2012 

552 

(543) 

1,610 

(186) 

719 

30 

48 

2,228 

(42) 

(219) 

1,967 

7 

1,973 

(1,547) 

(34) 

(175) 

154 

234 

5

(166) 
(1,530) 

34 

1,833 

337 

6

(9) 

(137) 

(121) 

0 

687 

1,250 

(996) 

(255) 

122 

546 

2,856 

(132) 

2,724 

3,849 

6,573 

2011(1) 

(845) 

(690) 

1,644 

(175) 

2,420 

26 

196 

2,577 

(240) 

11 

2,348 

(233) 

3 

2,118 

(2,119) 

(30) 

(41) 

7 

488 

 21

191 
(1,483) 

(61) 

1,146 

(398) 

 12

(13) 

(708) 

(99) 

(126) 

853 

500 

(1,442) 

(270) 

123 

(1,170) 

551 

27 

578 

3,271 

3,849 

(1) Restated, see note 4 in the 2012 Registration Document – Consolidated financial statements chapter. 
(2) See note 38 in the 2012 Registration Document – Consolidated financial statements chapter for details. 
(3) Including impact of the Guyenne et Gascogne tender offer (cost of additional shares giving the Group control of the business) for €96 million. 
(4) Disposal of Altis shares for €153 million. 
(5) Including the sale price of operations in Colombia and Malaysia, for a total of €2,053 million. 
(6) This item corresponds: 

a. For €144 million, to the buyout of minority interests in Sogara and Centros Comerciales Carrefour, both already controlled by the Group, in connection with the Guyenne et Gascogne acquisition. 
b. For €200 million to the buyout of the Group’s financial services partner in Brazil, followed by the sale of an interest in this business to Itaú Unibanco. 
c. For €66 million, to the buyout of minority interests in Grands Magasins Labruyère. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
67 

1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   67
1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   67

06/05/13   12:30
06/05/13   12:30

 
 
 
 
OUR PERFORMANCE 

Consolidated statement of changes in shareholders’ equity 

Translation  
reserve 

Fair value  
reserve(1) 

Other  
consolidated  
reserves and  
net income for  
the year 

778 

(55) 

7,162 

Share  
capital 

1,698 

Shareholders’  
equity –  
Group share 

Non-
controlling  
interests 

Total  
shareholders’  
equity 

Other comprehensive income after tax 
Total comprehensive income 

0 

(320) 

(320) 

(6) 

(6) 

(in millions of euros) 

Shareholders’ equity 
at December 31, 2010 

Net income for the year 

Share-based payments 

Treasury stock (net of tax) 

2010 dividend payment 

Distribution of Dia shares(2) 

Change in capital and additional paid-in  
capital 

Effect of changes in scope of consolidation 
and other movements(3) 
Shareholders’ equity 
at December 31, 2011  

Net income for the year 

Other comprehensive income after tax(4) 
Total comprehensive income 

Share-based payments 

Treasury stock (net of tax) 

2011 dividend payment(5) 

Change in capital and additional paid-in  
capital(6) 

Effect of changes in scope of consolidation 
and other movements(7) 
Shareholders’ equity 
at December 31, 2012  

371 

27 

398 

29 

(73) 

(708) 

(2,230) 

(56) 

4,521 

1,233 

1,233 

9 

979 

33 

(42) 

(9) 

(105) 

 36

107 

1,009 

83 

(8) 

75 

9,584 

371 

(299) 

72 

29 

(73) 

(708) 

(2,230) 

0

(56) 

6,618 

1,233 

(354) 

880 

9 

0 

(178) 

(137) 

(121) 

155 

(72) 

188 

(72) 

6 

(95) 

874 

10,563

404 

(340) 

64 

29 

(73) 

(813) 

(2,230) 

36 

51

7,627

1,316 

(362) 

955 

9 

0 

(257) 

194 

(167)

8 361

1,698 

458 

(61) 

(365) 

(365) 

12 

12 

0 

41 

33 

1,773 

93 

(49) 

5,669 

7,487 

(1)This item comprises: 

– the effective portion of changes in the fair value of cash flow hedges; 
– cumulative changes in the fair value of available-for-sale financial assets. 

(2) Impact of the distribution of Dia shares on July 5, 2011. 
(3) Including the impact of changes in financial liabilities for put options granted to non-controlling interests in subsidiaries. 
(4) The detailed breakdown of other comprehensive income is presented after the income statement. The translation reserve was also reduced by cumulative exchange differences on operations in Colombia 

and Malaysia that were recycled to the income statement for €182 million following the disposal of these operations during 2012. 

(5) The 2011 dividend totaling €348 million was paid in cash for €137 million and in new shares for €211 million (corresponding to the aggregate par value of the new shares for €41 million and premiums 

for €170 million). 

(6) The cash offer for Guyenne et Gascogne with a stock alternative (see note 3 in the 2012 Registration Document – Consolidated financial statements chapter) led to the issue of €13.3 million new shares 

for a total of €188 million including premiums. 

(7) This line includes the effect of: 

a. the buyout of minority interests in Sogara and Centros Comerciales Carrefour in connection with the Guyenne et Gascogne acquisition, for a negative €263 million; 
b. the buyout of the Group’s financial services partner in Brazil, followed by the sale of an interest in this business to Itaú Unibanco, for a positive €112 million. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
68 

1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   68
1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   68

06/05/13   12:30
06/05/13   12:30

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
governance 

working for you
means defining and 
observing clear, 
transparent operating 
rules to ensure  
effective and  
responsible action  

1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   69
1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   69

06/05/13   12:30
06/05/13   12:30

GOVERNANCE 

The Board of Directors 

The specialised committees 

The Board of Directors is a collective body that represents all shareholders and acts  
in the company’s interest in all circumstances. The Board ensures that its  
membership is balanced, its ability, experience and representativeness serve the  
company and its operating procedures are appropriate in order to act in the  
company’s interest  and fulfil  its missions. 
The Board approves the company’s strategy as proposed by the Chairman and Chief  
Executive Officer, and ensures its implementation. Except for the powers attributed  
to the Shareholders’ Meeting and in accordance with the company’s business object,  
the Board deals with  all questions in  company interest  and resolves  through its  
deliberations the issues that are raised. 

Georges Plassat 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 
Board appointment: May 23, 2012 
Ratification and renewal: June 18, 2012 
Term of office expires: Shareholders’ Meeting 
convened to approve the financial statements 
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014 

Sébastien Bazin – Vice-Chairman 
Board appointment: July 28, 2008 
Renewal: May 4, 2010 
Renewal proposed during the Shareholders’  
Meeting of April 23, 2013 

Amaury de Seze*
 
Senior Independent Director
 
Board appointment: July 28, 2008 
Renewal: June 21, 2011 
Term of office expires: Shareholders’ Meeting  
convened to approve the financial statements  
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013 

Bernard Arnault – Director 
Board appointment: July 28, 2008 
Renewal: June 21, 2011 
Term of office expires: Shareholders’ Meeting 
convened to approve the financial statements 
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013 

Nicolas Bazire – Director 
Board appointment: July 28, 2008 
Renewal: June 18, 2012 
Term of office expires: Shareholders’ Meeting 
convened to approve the financial statements 
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014 

Jean-Laurent Bonnafé – Director 
Board appointment: July 28, 2008 
Renewal: June 21, 2011 
Term of office expires: Shareholders’ Meeting 
convened to approve the financial statements 
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013 

Thierry Breton* – Director 
Board appointment: July 28, 2008 
Renewal: May 4, 2010 
Renewal proposed during the Shareholders’  
Meeting of April 23, 2013 

René Brillet* – Director 
Board appointment: July 28, 2008 
Renewal : June 21, 2011 
Term of office expires: Shareholders’ Meeting 
convened to approve the financial statements 
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013 

Charles Edelstenne* – Director 
Board appointment: July 28, 2008 
Renewal: May 4, 2010 
Renewal proposed during the Shareholders’  
Meeting of April 23, 2013 

Diane Labruyère-Cuilleret* – Director 
Board appointment: June 18, 2012 
Term of office expires: Shareholders’ Meeting  
convened to approve the financial statements  
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014 

Mathilde Lemoine* – Director 
Board appointment: May 20, 2011 
Renewal : June 18, 2012 
Term of office expires: Shareholders’ Meeting 
convened to approve the financial statements 
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014 

Bertrand de Montesquiou* – Director 
Board appointment: June 18, 2012 
Term of office expires: Shareholders’ Meeting 
convened to approve the financial statements 
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014 

Georges Ralli* – Director 
Board appointment: June 18, 2012 
Term of office expires: Shareholders’ Meeting 
convened to approve the financial statements 
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014 

Anne-Claire Taittinger* – Director 
Board appointment: July 28, 2008 
Renewal: May 4, 2010 
Renewal proposed during the Shareholders’  
Meeting of April 23, 2013 

Robert Halley – Honorary Chairman 

* independent director  

To take into account the nature and characteristics 
of the company’s activities, the Committees 
of the Board are: 
• the Accounts Committee; 
• the Remuneration Committee; 
• the Nominations Committee. 

The Accounts Committee 
Chairman: Georges Ralli* 
Members: René Brillet*, Mathilde Lemoine*, Sébastien Bazin 
The Committee’s duties notably include monitoring the  
process of preparing financial information, the effectiveness  
of the internal control and risk management systems, the  
auditing of the annual and consolidated financial statements  
by the statutory auditors and the independence of the  
statutory auditors. 

The Remuneration Committee 
Chairman: Thierry Breton* 
Members: René Brillet*, Sébastien Bazin 
The Remuneration Committee is particularly responsible  
for reviewing all issues relating to the personal status of  
corporate officers, including remuneration, pension benefits,  
company subscription, purchase options and provisions and  
free shares governing the departure of members from  
the company’s management and representative bodies.  
It reviews the terms, amounts and allocation basis of  
stock-option plans. It is informed of the remuneration policy  
for top executives who are not corporate officers. 

The Nominations Committee 
Chairman:  Bertrand de Montesquiou*
 
Members:    Diane Labruyère*, Anne-Claire Taittinger*,
 

Nicolas Bazire 

In the event of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer’s  
resignation or death or non-renewal of his term of office, the  
committee is responsible for making proposals to the Board  
of Directors regarding the Chairman’s appointment. 
In consultation with the Chairman, it is also charged with  
recommending candidates for Chief Executive Officer and,  
if applicable, Chief Operating Officer to the Board of  
Directors. It is also responsible, together with the Chairman  
and Chief Executive Officer, for reviewing preparatory  
measures for the transition to the corporate officers’ new  
term of office and the selection of new directors. 
It makes recommendations to the Board of Directors,  
together with Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, on the  
appointment of committee chairmen and members. It is also  
charged with assessing Directors’ independence and  
reporting its findings to the Board of Directors. It also assists  
the Board of Directors in adapting the Company’s corporate  
governance practices and assessing their operation. 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
70 

1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   70
1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   70

06/05/13   12:30
06/05/13   12:30

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GOVERNANCE 

The Management team 

Country and Region Management
 

Georges Plassat 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 

Pierre-Jean Sivignon 
Chief Financial Officer 

Jérôme Bédier 
General Secretary 

Jean-Christophe Deslarzes 
Chief Human Resources and 
Organisation Officer 

Éric Legros 
Executive Director Group Merchandise 

Marie-Noëlle Brouaux 
Executive Communications Director 

Jean Anthoine 
Executive Director Poland 

Jean-Noël Bironneau 
Executive Director India 

Pascal Clouzard 
Executive Director Spain 

Guillaume de Colonges 
Executive Director Turkey 

Luiz Fazzio 
Executive Director Brazil 

Daniel Fernandez 
Executive Director Argentina 

Patrick Ganaye 
Executive Director Taiwan 

Thierry Garnier 
Executive Director China-Taiwan 

Thomas Hübner 
Executive Director Europe   
(excl. France) 

Gérard Lavinay 
Executive Director Belgium 

François Melchior de Polignac 
Executive Director Romania 

Noël Prioux 
Executive Director France 

Stéphane Thouin 
Executive Director 
International Partnerships 

Éric Uzan* 
Executive Director Italy 

* from April 1, 2013 

FIND INFORMATION ON GOVERNANCE IN THE REGISTRATION DOCUMENT, 
AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE  www.carrefour.com 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
71 

1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   71
1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   71

06/05/13   12:30
06/05/13   12:30

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ADRESSES 

Contacts 

Carrefour group 

France 

Head Office 
33, avenue Émile-Zola 
TSA 55 555 
92649 Boulogne-Billancourt Cedex 
Tel.: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 00 
Fax: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 01 

Investor Relations 
investisseurs@carrefour.com 

Shareholder Relations 

Toll-free number for shareholders 
in France : 

Number for shareholders outside 
France: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 00 
actionnaires@carrefour.com 

Registered Shareholders 
CACEIS Corporate Trust 
Investor Relations 
14, rue Rouget-de-Lisle 
92862 Issy-les-Moulineaux  
Cedex 09 
Tel.: +33 (0)1 57 78 34 44 
Fax: +33 (0)1 49 08 05 80 
ct-contact@caceis.com 

Carrefour France 
102, rue de Paris – BP 83 
91300 Massy 
Tel.: +33 (0)1 69 19 30 00 
Fax: +33 (0)1 69 19 30 99 

Europe 

Belgium 
Carrefour Belgium 
20, avenue des Olympiades 
1140 Bruxelles 
Tel.: +32 2 729 21 11 
Fax: +32 2 729 20 38 

Italy 
Carrefour Italia 
Via Caldera, 21 
20153 Milano 
Tel.: +39 02 48 25 1 
Fax: +39 02 48 20 23 25 

Poland 
Carrefour Polska 
Ul. Targowa 72 
03-734 Warszawa 
Tel.: +48 22 517 21 10 
Fax: +48 22 517 22 01 

Romania 
Carrefour Romania 
Blvd. Timisoara nr. 26z, sector 6 
Cladirea Anchor Plaza – Etaj 8 
061331 Bucuresti ¸
Tel.: +40 21 206 74 00 
Fax: +40 21 206 74 52 

Asia 

China 
Carrefour China 
25F, Shanghai Stock Exchange  
Bldg., 
No.528, Pudong Nan Road 
200120 Pudong, Shanghai 
Tel.: +86 21 3878 4500 
Fax: +86 21 6881 5232 

India 
Carrefour W C&C 
India Pvt Ltd 
2nd floor, Park Centra 
Sector 30 – Village Silokhra 
Gurgaon 122001 – Haryana 
Tel.: +91 124 4752000 
Fax: +91 124 4752005 

Taiwan 
Carrefour Taiwan 
5F, No. 136. Daye Road, 
Beitou Dist, Taipei City 
Tel.: +886 2 2898 1999 
Fax: +886 2 2898 2633 

Spain 
Centros Comerciales Carrefour 
Calle Campezo, 16 
Polígono de las Mercedes 
28022 Madrid 
Tel.: +34 91 301 89 00 
Fax: +34 91 333 18 36 

Turkey 
Carrefour SA Turkiye 
Dudullu Asfalti n° 1 
Kucukbakkalkoy Mahallesi 
Kadikoy / Istanbul 34750 
Tel.: +90 216 655 00 00 
Fax: +90 216 655 00 50 

Latin America 

Argentina 
Carrefour Argentina 
Cuyo 3367 – 1640 Martínez 
Provincia de Buenos Aires 
Tel.: +54 11 40 03 70 00 
Fax: +54 11 40 03 77 22 

Brazil 
Carrefour Commercio e industria 
Rua George Eastman, n° 213 
CEP 056690-000 São Paulo 
Tel.: +55 11 37 79 60 00 
Fax: +55 11 37 79 66 94 

2012 ANNUAL ACTIVITY AND RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT REPORT 
72 

1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   72
1304091_RA_CARREF_52_72_GB.indd   72

06/05/13   12:30
06/05/13   12:30

 
 
 
 
 
CONTENTS

Interview with the Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer
page 2

Get the latest news  
on Carrefour group’s  
website  
www.carrefour.com 

Discover 
our other publications 

our stores

Our priorities
A multi-local Group
Hypermarkets
Supermarkets
Convenience stores
Cash & carry and hypercash stores
Multichannel retail
Our CSR commitment

page 6

our products

Our priorities
Fresh produce
Local products
Everyday products
Non-food products
Carrefour’s trade services
Our CSR commitment

page 24

our employees

Our priorities
Develop the passion for retail
Promoting employee confi dence
Our CSR commitment

our performance

Our priorities
Financial overview
Stock market overview
CSR overview
Consolidated fi nancial statements

page 40

page 52

Governance
page 69

2012 
Registration Document 

2012 
Carrefour Foundation 
annual report 

2013 
Shareholder’s guide 
(in French version) 

Conception: 
Carrefour group Communications Department 

Creation and production: 

Translation: 

Photo credits: Carrefour library, Lionel Barbe, Elisa Desmares, Christophe Gay / Skyzone 
Le Group, Gilles Leimdorfer / Interlinks Image, Ludovic Marin / REA, Roger Mark, David Pell 
Multimédia, all rights reserved. 

Paper: The Carrefour group has made a commitment to responsible management of its paper 
purchases.  The  paper  used  in  this  report  is  FSC  (Forest  Stewardship  Council)  certifi ed.  This 
certification attests to compliance with a set of internationally recognised forest management 
principles  and  criteria.  The  aim  of  FSC  is  to  promote  environmentally  responsible,  socially 
beneficial and economically viable management of the Earth’s forest. 

Printing:  This  document  was  produced  by  Frazier,  FSC  and  ISO  140001  environmental 
management  systems  (EMS)  certified.  Frazier  has  received  the  Imprim’Vert  brand,  meeting 
requirements  for  hazardous  waste  management,  secure  storage  of  hazardous  materials  and 
toxic products exclusion. 

1304091_Couverture_RA_GB.indd   75
1304091_Couverture_RA_GB.indd   75

06/05/13   11:34
06/05/13   11:34

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
t
r
o
p
e
r

t
n
e
m

t
i

i

l

m
m
o
c
e
b
s
n
o
p
s
e
r
d
n
a
y
t
i
v
i
t
c
a

l

a
u
n
n
a
2
1
0
2

www.carrefour.com 

Société Anonyme with capital of €1,773,036,632.50 
Head offi ce : 33, avenue Émile Zola – 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt – France 
652 014 051 RCS Nanterre 

1304091_Couverture_RA_GB.indd   74
1304091_Couverture_RA_GB.indd   74

06/05/13   11:34
06/05/13   11:34

2012
annual activity
and responsible
commitment report