Brazil: Groupe Casino aims to expand presence

Brazil: Groupe Casino aims to expand presence

French retail group Casino is looking to strengthen its presence in Brazil, including expanding its geographical footprint, according to an article from newspaper Le Figaro cited by rFi.

The reports come on the back of last year's 9.2% sales growth for Casino in Brazil, the group's second largest global market after France. Groupe Casino has a controlling interest in CBD, the company behind leading Brazilian supermarket chain Pao de Acucar. The firm’s multiformat strategy, ranging from retail to wholesale as well as electricals and e-commerce, is cited as a key factor in its recent performance.

According to Le Figaro, Casino's future plans for Brazil include developing its geographic presence across the country. The group currently has 2,100 outlets in Brazil, mainly in the southeast, and it is now said to be aiming to expand its distribution network in the northeast, where it has only 133 stores. In addition, the company is reportedly looking to diversify its store base by expanding its chain of local stores under the banners Minuto Pao de Acucar and Minimercado Extra.

Reports on Casino’s strategy in Brazil follow a recent announcement by rival Carrefour that it was also looking to expand in the country, with the remodelling of its larger hypermarkets, the expansion of its chain of local stores, and the relaunch of its e-commerce platform.

Source: rFi (citing Le Figaro)