Carrefour charts African dominance, targets 22 countries by 2030

Carrefour, the French retail giant, is accelerating its African expansion under the “Carrefour 2030” strategy, aiming to become the continent’s leading grocery retailer within the next four years.

Carrefour’s African expansion plan targets operations in 22 African countries, capitalizing on franchise partnerships to expand in markets vacated by competitors and strengthen its continental footprint.

Expanding through strategic partnerships
Carrefour has long relied on a capital-light franchise model in Africa, and the strategy continues to focus on local collaboration. In January 2026, Carrefour signed a franchise and supply agreement with Queens Supermarket PLC, part of Ethiopia’s Midroc Investment Group, to rebrand 13 existing stores and open 17 new outlets by 2028.

In December 2025, Carrefour entered Ghana through a partnership with Brands For All, taking over seven former Shoprite stores and preparing to rebrand them by April 2026. These new agreements complement longstanding partnerships with Majid Al Futtaim in Egypt, Kenya, and Uganda, and CFAO Retail across French-speaking African countries, including DRC, Gabon, Cameroon, and Senegal. 

Carrefour also maintains operations with local partners in Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, collectively operating nearly 700 stores across the continent.

Capitalizing on competitor retrenchment
Carrefour’s expansion targets territories recently exited by South Africa’s Shoprite, which pulled back from Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, DRC, and Madagascar after underperforming returns. While Shoprite focuses on consolidating its southern African presence, Carrefour is moving decisively into vacated markets, leveraging the opportunity to capture urban and peri-urban consumer segments.

Strategic outlook
“Partnering with established local operators allows us to expand rapidly while maintaining operational efficiency and minimizing upfront capital,” a Carrefour spokesperson said. This franchise-led model positions Carrefour to scale quickly, access underpenetrated markets, and strengthen supply chains.

Carrefour’s African push signals a reshaping of the retail landscape. By combining international expertise with local market insight, the French retailer is poised to challenge regional incumbents and cement its position as a dominant grocery operator across the continent by 2030.