The European Commission has officially approved the acquisition of Carrefour Italy by NewPrinces S.p.A., granting the Italian company full control over Carrefour Italia S.p.A., according to an announcement from the institution. The transaction concerns the production and retail distribution of food products.
EU officials concluded that the deal does not raise competition concerns, given its limited impact on the markets in which the two companies operate. The assessment was conducted under the standard merger review procedure and identified no risks to market competition.
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The approval comes as Carrefour continues its global restructuring process, reassessing its business portfolio amid shifting market conditions.
Speculation persists regarding the retailer’s presence in Romania, where Carrefour operates nearly 460 stores. In October, French publication l’Informe reported that the group may be preparing to sell its Romanian operations, though Carrefour neither confirmed nor denied this possibility.
In the first nine months of 2025, Carrefour Romania recorded sales exceeding €2.2 billion. The company highlighted in its financial report the impact of austerity measures imposed by Romanian authorities, which have created pressure on operational results.
In a response sent earlier to Revista CARIERE, Carrefour representatives stated that the group is midway through executing its Carrefour 2026 strategic plan and is conducting a comprehensive review of its business lines and organizational structures, without providing clarity on a potential withdrawal from the Romanian market.
While the sale in Italy is a local transaction, it reflects Carrefour’s broader strategy of reshaping its footprint across European markets.
Photo: Business Review
