French retail giant Carrefour has officially confirmed that it plans to sell its entire Romanian operations and is entering exclusive negotiations with Paval Holding, the investment vehicle of Romanian entrepreneurs Adrian and Dragoș Pavăl, known as the founders of Dedeman. The proposed deal is valued at approximately €823 million and forms part of Carrefour’s ongoing strategic refocus aimed at reshaping its global portfolio.
The announcement was made on the Euronext Paris stock exchange, where Carrefour revealed that the intended transaction with Paval Holding covers all of its activities in Romania. The move reflects the retailer’s broader shift, initiated in 2025, to streamline operations and concentrate on its core markets. Alongside divestments in other geographies, such as Italy earlier, this Romanian exit marks a significant step in that strategy.
Carrefour’s Romanian business includes a multi-format network of 478 stores, comprising 55 hypermarkets, 191 supermarkets, 202 convenience outlets, and 30 discount shops. In 2024 and the estimated 2025 performance period, the unit generated gross sales of around €3.2 billion, amounting to roughly 3.5 % of the group’s total sales.
Under the terms announced, the completion of the deal remains subject to customary regulatory approvals, with expectations that it will close in the second half of 2026. Carrefour has indicated that this sale is consistent with its ongoing analysis of its asset portfolio, following other major reorganizations such as repurchasing minority stakes in Carrefour Brazil and selling the group’s Italian operations.
Carrefour’s leadership has thanked its Romanian teams for their contributions to building a strong business locally and expressed confidence that the transition to Paval Holding presents an excellent opportunity for continued growth under new ownership.
Overall, this move illustrates Carrefour’s broader pivot toward optimizing its footprint by focusing on markets where it sees the strongest strategic potential, while local players like Paval Holding are positioned to take over a major foothold in Romania’s retail sector.
