BUSINESS STRATEGY

French retailer Carrefour plans to take on the Ethiopian market

By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2026

Latest move in Carrefour’s Africa expansion strategy should see it operating 30 stores in the country with a local partner by 2028.

Carrefour, the French-based supermarket giant, has announced plans to move into the Ethiopian market in partnership with a local company, Midroc Investment Group.

Photo: Carrefour

Midroc owns the Queen’s Supermarket brand in the country and will convert these 13 existing outlets into Carrefour-branded stores during first half of 2026.

Thereafter, Carrefour and Midroc will open 17 new stores by 2028 to expand their presence in the fast-developing Ethiopian market.

“This launch in Ethiopia is another milestone in the execution of our international franchise expansion strategy, which already saw us pass the 3,000 franchised store mark in October 2025,” says Patrick Lasfargues, CEO of Carrefour International Partnership.

Experience that meets the expectations of Ethiopian shoppers

States Jemal Ahmed, CEO of Midroc Investment Group: “By leveraging our deep knowledge of the local Ethiopian market, the dedication of the Midroc teams, and Carrefour’s excellence, we will be able to offer Ethiopian consumers high-quality, affordable products and an experience that perfectly meets their expectations.”

Carrefour’s entry into the Ethiopian market is part of an ambitious expansion strategy in Africa and the Middle East, partnering with experienced local retail groups which act as the master franchisor.

In December 2025, the French company announced its entry into Ghana in partnership with Brands for All, a local distributor that is already a franchise partner for retail chains such as Decathlon and Yves Rocher in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.

In November 2025, Brands for All took over seven Shoprite hypermarkets. These stores will be converted to Carrefour hypermarkets by April 2026. By 2028, five additional outlets will be opened.

Carrefour is active in various African markets – among them Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Gabon, Morocco, Tunisia and the DRC.

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