V-POL Audit: Carrefour

Corporate Communications & Public Stance

Alexandre Bompard, CEO of Carrefour Group, has repeatedly stated “there have never been and there will never be any Carrefour stores in occupied territory” across statements made in May 2025, 2023, and 2024 ¹. This corporate denials are directly contradicted by documented evidence of two Carrefour-branded stores operating in Israeli settlements (Maccabim in Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut and Neve Ya’akov in occupied East Jerusalem) ¹².

In annual and sustainability reports, Carrefour frames its Israeli operations as standard commercial franchise activity without reference to geopolitical context ³. The March 2022 press release announcing the Electra Consumer Products partnership describes the venture purely in commercial terms ³.

No public evidence identified of Carrefour issuing official statements on the Israel-Palestine conflict as a corporate entity, beyond the CEO’s denials regarding settlement operations. No public evidence identified of Carrefour issuing statements on other geopolitical crises such as Ukraine or Myanmar for comparative analysis. No public evidence identified of Carrefour issuing statements supporting Israeli military operations or opposing ceasefire efforts.

Operations in Occupied or Contested Territories

Two Carrefour-branded stores operate in Israeli settlements: the Maccabim location (Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut) and Neve Ya’akov in occupied East Jerusalem, both bearing full Carrefour branding ¹.

The franchisee, Global Retail C.I. Ltd (formerly Yenot Bitan), operates six additional stores under the Yenot Bitan/Mehadrin Market brand in West Bank settlements including Ariel, Alfei Menashe, Ma’ale Adumim, Beit El, Modi’in Illit, and Kokhav Ya’akov ¹².

In March 2022, Carrefour signed a 20-year franchise agreement with Electra Consumer Products (TASE: ECP), which is 49.49% owned by Elco Ltd ³⁴. The agreement was extended by 7 years in February 2024 ². By June 2024, 97 Carrefour branches operated in Israel ².

Electra Ltd (sister company to franchise partner ECP) is listed in the 2020 UN OHCHR database of companies involved in Israeli settlements ⁵⁶. Carrefour itself is not directly listed in the database but is linked through the franchise relationship with Electra group entities.

The July 2025 UN Special Rapporteur report (A/HRC/59/23) by Francesca Albanese cites Carrefour among 48 corporate actors involved in Israel’s economy of occupation ⁷.

In early 2023, Carrefour Israel secured loans from four Israeli banks — Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi, Mizrahi Tefahot Bank, and Israel Discount Bank — all of which are listed in the UN OHCHR settlement database ⁶.

Juganu, an Israeli smart lighting startup, is a partner of Carrefour Israel and is active in the settlements of Beitar Illit and Har Homa ⁶⁸.

Carrefour Israel provided food and beverages to COGAT (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories) worth NIS 33,705 (approximately $10,000) in 2024 ².

No specific legal challenges, regulatory actions, or regulatory inquiries specifically targeting Carrefour’s settlement operations have been identified in public records. Carrefour is subject to French Law No. 2017-399 (Loi de Vigilance / Duty of Vigilance) ¹⁹. A March 2025 lawsuit by BLOOM and Foodwatch relates to tuna supply chain issues, not settlement involvement ⁹.

The BDS Movement has maintained an active boycott campaign against Carrefour since December 2022 ⁸. The boycott grounds include: (1) Carrefour’s franchise operations in Israeli settlements; (2) Carrefour Israel’s supply relationship with COGAT; (3) the October 2023 soldier fundraiser at a Carrefour Jerusalem store ⁸.

Carrefour closed all operations in Jordan on November 4, 2024. The franchisee, Majid Al Futtaim (MAF), replaced the Carrefour brand with “HyperMax” in Jordan, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait ¹⁰¹¹. Sales in Jordan had declined approximately 75% prior to exit ¹¹.

Net income (Group share) dropped to €723 million in 2024 from €1,659 million in 2023 — a 56.4% decline ¹².

Internal Governance, Content & Retail Policies

No public evidence identified of HR actions against pro-Palestinian staff, lawsuits against unions for pro-Palestine speech, or documented employee speech controversies at Carrefour related to the conflict.

No public evidence identified of algorithmic moderation, content suppression, or editorial stances related to the conflict at Carrefour (as distinct from platform companies).

No public evidence identified of regulatory actions regarding labeling, sourcing, or categorization of products from settlements at Carrefour retail locations.

Security guards at Carrefour Tunisia (La Marsa branch, operated by UTIC Group) assaulted pro-Palestinian protesters with sticks and chairs on August 30, 2025, leaving several injured including fractures ¹³. Guards were detained for questioning by Tunisian authorities. The incident reflects franchisee conduct rather than corporate policy ¹³.

Brand Heritage & State Partnerships

No public evidence identified of Carrefour utilizing military heritage, defense sector ties, or state-security origins in its commercial branding or public relations in Israel.

No public evidence identified of Carrefour accepting state honors, hosting government officials, or formal non-commercial partnerships with state academic/governmental institutions in Israel. No evidence identified of corporate sponsorships of state-backed cultural and public relations campaigns such as “Brand Israel.”

A Carrefour store in Jerusalem’s Ramat Beit Hkerem held a fundraiser for Israeli soldiers involved in Gaza operations in October 2023, displaying a sign reading “for our brave soldiers” ⁸. This is documented as store-level activity rather than corporate policy.

Lobbying, Advocacy, Financing & Logistics

No public evidence identified of Carrefour’s corporate lobbying efforts, leadership roles in geopolitical pressure groups, or PAC donations related to regional policy, boycotts, or trade legislation. No entries in US LDA or UK lobbying registers have been identified for Carrefour. The company is registered in the EU Transparency Register (registration 118080510828-42) and is a signatory to the Code of Conduct ¹⁴; however, no Israel-specific lobbying activities have been documented in public disclosures.

No public evidence identified of material corporate donations or sponsorships directed toward parastatal organizations, settlement groups, or military-welfare funds by Carrefour as a corporate entity. The COGAT supply contract (NIS 33,705 in 2024) represents commercial supply rather than donation ².

No public evidence identified of Carrefour directing corporate resources, physical logistics, free services, or infrastructure to assist state, military, or state-aligned NGO efforts during active conflict, beyond the COGAT supply contract and the documented soldier fundraiser.

Corporate Structure & Primary Mission

No public evidence identified that Carrefour’s corporate charter, ownership structure, or founding documents tie its primary mission to advancing state geopolitical goals or infrastructure. Carrefour is a publicly traded French multinational retailer (Euronext Paris: CA) with commercial franchise operations in Israel.

The Israeli franchise is operated by Global Retail C.I. Ltd (head office: Ha-Sar Haim Moshe Shapira St. 1, Rishon LeTsiyon 7570401, Israel), a subsidiary of Electra Consumer Products (49.49% owned by Elco Ltd.) ²⁴. The Salkind brothers (Daniel and Michael) control Elco Ltd. No evidence has been found connecting the Salkind brothers to settlement organizations, FIDF, JNF/KKL, or Israeli defense entities beyond their commercial holdings.

Executive & Leadership Footprint

No public evidence identified of personal donations by Alexandre Bompard (CEO), Carrefour board members, or controlling shareholders to FIDF, JNF/KKL, settlement organizations, or military-welfare funds.

Alexandre Bompard has made repeated public statements denying Carrefour’s presence in occupied territories ¹. No evidence identified of other public statements, op-eds, or social media activity by key leadership figures regarding the conflict beyond these denials.

No public evidence identified of founders or key executives holding personal board seats, leadership roles, or advisory positions in geopolitical pressure groups, state-aligned academic institutions, or lobbying organizations. No former IDF, Shin Bet, or Mossad personnel have been documented on Carrefour’s board.

End Notes