“I will carry on with the strategy launched by my predecessor. Expansion will remain an important feature of Carrefour’s strategy,” the retailer’s new CEO, Patrice Lespagnol, said. This year, all Artima supermarkets, which Carrefour acquired in 2007, will be turned into Carrefour Express units. “As of next year, we will open new stores based on this model, while expanding the hypermarket chain,” he added.

Lespagnol was appointed CEO of Carrefour’s local subsidiary this April. He replaces Jacobo Caller Celestino, who has gone on to become CEO of Carrefour Russia.

Carrefour Romania posted €508 million in sales in the first half of 2008, 40.3 percent higher than the €866 million in H1 2007, due to the expansion process. “This year, Carrefour will exceed the €1 billion turnover threshold,” Lespagnol indicated.

The local fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) market was worth €41 billion last year and is expected to reach €43 billion in 2008, according to MEMRB research company.

Carrefour’s main competitors on the hypermarket segment are Auchan, Cora, Real, Pic and Kaufland. On the supermarket segment main players are Billa, Mega Image, Interex and Spar.