• Carrefour plans to enter Ghana in 2026 through a franchise partnership
• The group will take over and rebrand Shoprite Ghana’s seven hypermarkets
• Carrefour targets 12 stores in Ghana by 2028 under its global franchise strategy

Ghana’s rapid urbanisation and shifting consumer habits continue to attract foreign retail operators, as the country’s distribution market shows strong growth potential.

French retailer Carrefour plans to enter the Ghanaian retail market in 2026 through a franchise partnership between its international development arm, Carrefour Partenariat International, and local operator Brands For All. The partners announced the agreement on Monday, December 15, in a joint statement.

Under the terms of the agreement, Carrefour will begin operations in Ghana by acquiring and converting the entire network of Shoprite Ghana stores under its own brand.

Shoprite announced in June 2025 that it had received an offer to sell the seven hypermarkets it operates in Ghana. Carrefour will rebrand these outlets, marking its formal entry into the market.

Carrefour plans to launch operations under its brand from April 2026, which will trigger the official start of its activities in Ghana.

Expansion already mapped out

Beyond the takeover of Shoprite’s existing stores, the agreement includes a development plan to open five additional outlets by 2028, bringing the total number of Carrefour-branded stores to 12 across Ghana.

The strategy aims to secure a foothold in a market of roughly 35 million people, where nearly 60% of the population lives in urban areas, amid a gradual transformation of consumption patterns.

The project aligns with “Plan Carrefour 2026,” which targets entry into 10 new countries through franchising.

“This deployment in Ghana represents another step in the execution of our international franchise expansion strategy, after we surpassed the milestone of 3,000 franchised stores in October 2025,” said Patrick Lasfargues, executive director of Carrefour Partenariat International.

By choosing a franchise model, Carrefour limits direct capital exposure, as local partners typically fund investments while the group focuses on brand management, store concepts and supply chains.

A fast-growing market crowded with competitors

Ghana’s retail sector has expanded sharply in recent years. In a report published in November 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated that the market grew 36.06%, rising from $24.4 billion in 2021 to $33.2 billion in 2024.

Several factors suggest continued growth. “The Ghanaian food retail sector remains largely concentrated in Accra, near the port of Tema, as well as in Kumasi and Takoradi. However, shopping malls and food retail outlets continue to expand into regional capitals,” the USDA report said.

“Although a large share of the population still prefers traditional open markets for weekly shopping, this trend continues to evolve as the middle class expands,” the report added.

According to the USDA, small local grocers and community shops control 83% of the market, while modern retail, including supermarkets and hypermarkets, accounts for 17%.

Carrefour will face strong competition from Melcom, Ghana’s largest retail chain, which operates nearly 75 hypermarkets nationwide.

Other competitors include China Mall, with 12 supermarkets, MaxMart Family Shopping Center, with seven, Palace Hypermarket, with five hypermarkets, as well as All Needs, which runs five supermarkets.

Carrefour will also compete with the rapid rise of e-commerce, supported by internet penetration of around 70% and widespread mobile usage. Local players such as Jumia continue to expand online delivery services.

Despite these challenges, analysts expect it will take time to assess how Carrefour reshapes Ghana’s modern retail segment. In 2024, Carrefour reported 9.9% revenue growth, reaching 94.55 billion euros ($111 billion).

Stéphanas Assocle