During more than 50 years, the French company Carrefour has grown to become one of the world’s leading distribution groups. It is the largest hypermarket chain in Europe and the rest of the globe, the second-largest retailer and is second biggest revenue earner. The company operates on three continents: Europe, Latin America and Asia with presence in 35 countries. The name Carrefour means 'Crossroads' in French. http://www.carrefour.com/cdc/group/our-group/

This group operates under four grocery store formats: hypermarkets, supermarkets, hard discount and convenience stores. Carrefour currently owns over 8,000 stores worldwide and some 7.000 subsidiaries around the globe under the franchise names: Atacadão, Hyperstar, Globi, GB Supermarkets, Dia, Minipreço, Marche Plus, Proxi or Sherpa. http://www.carrefour.com/cdc/group/our-group/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrefour

• Promotions

• Magasins (Sales Magazine)

• Carte de Fidélité (Fidelity Card)

• Alimentation & Vie Quotidienne (Food & Daily Life)

• Informatique, Image & Son (Computers, Image & Sound)

• Mobile

• Électroménager (Appliances)

• Maison & Jardin (Home & Garden)

• Loisirs & Sports (Recreation & Sports)

• Voyages & Spectacles (Travel & Entertainment)

• Services Financiers & Assurances (Finantial Services & Insurance)

1960, Carrefour opens its first supermarket in Annecy, Haute-Savoie

1963, Carrefour invents the new hypermarket in Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois

1969, Carrefour opens first hypermarket outside France, in Belgium

1970, Carrefour shares are listed on the Paris stock exchange

1973, Carrefour opens its first hypermarket in Spain

1975, Carrefour open its first South American hypermarket, in Brazil

1981, The company´s Pass Card payment card is introduced

1984, Carrefour Insurance Services is launched

1989, First Carrefour Asian hypermarket open in Taiwan

1992, Carrefour creates Filière Quality Systems

1995, Carrefour opens first hypermarket in China

1999, Carrefour and Promodès merge - largest European retailer

2006, New concepts, Carrefour Express and Mini-Hypermarket

• Walt-Mart

• Tesco

• Ocado