Carrefour to increase overseas expansion

Carrefour will continue to develop its operations outside France to offset weak sales in its domestic market. Operating profits in French stores fell by almost 15 percent in the first half of the year, as price cuts bit into margins. Meanwhile, operating profits in Carrefour's overseas stores increased by almost 24 percent during the same period. About 80 percent of Carrefour's new store openings in 2005 have been outside France, mostly in Poland, Italy, Turkey, Cyprus and Brazil.