Carrefour is sending mixed signals regarding its strategy for Poland Shutterstock

Carrefour CEO Georges Plassat said the company will review its position in Poland, as it thinks of ways to reduce its costs and debt.

At a press conference last Thursday during which he presented the firm’s results, Mr Plassat said that while Carrefour, the world’s second-largest retailer, must defend its positions in mature markets, as well as in China and Latin America, the business in Poland, among others, will “need reflection,” due to the high levels of competition that the company faces from several other large retailers. He added that in Poland eight retailers had about the same market share.

“We’re keeping the mature countries, we’re going to defend them, other important countries are Brazil and China,” Mr Plassat said. “In certain countries, like Poland, we could adjust our positions.”

Later that same day however, Mr Plassat issued a statement that seemed to run counter to his previous comments, saying “Poland, where the company has a very strong position, will be one of the countries in which [the company] will intensify its presence in different formats.”

WBJ contacted Carrefour to clarify the company’s position regarding the future of its Polish operations.

“The latest statement by Mr Plassat reflects the company’s plans with regards to Poland, so yes, Carrefour will intensify its presence in Poland,” the company’s spokesperson confirmed.

However, Dominika Kubacka, retail analyst at market research firm PMR, said that it is very possible that Carrefour will leave Poland.

“Carrefour has halted its development in Poland recently, the only thing that it has been investing in is Carrefour Express which is more of a franchise network,” she said. “We haven’t seen any new super- or hypermarkets, so it wouldn’t be such a big surprise if they decided to exit Poland,” Ms Kubacka said.