Carrefour Group reported that consolidated sales for the three-month period grew 6.2 percent from last year, reflecting the positive impact of currency and early Easter timing.
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At constant exchange rates and on organic basis, sales increased 3.2 percent.
Consolidated sales, including value added tax or VAT, for the quarter grew 6.2 percent to 21.01 billion euros from last year. Sales were helped by 2.1 percent currency impact, and 0.3 percent early Easter effect.
Sales increased 3.2 percent on an organic basis, excluding the calender and petrol impacts. Total sales under banners, including petrol, grew 7.7 percent to 25.4 billion euros in the first quarter.
The company's like-for-like sales for the quarter edged up 1.0 percent, and like-for-like sales, excluding calendar effect and petrol, rose 2.3 percent.
Sales, including VAT, in France increased 3.6 percent to 9.56 billion euros from last year, reflecting continued growth in all formats. These included the privately-held Dia France stores that were acquired in early December 2014. Organic sales growth in France was 2.6 percent. France recorded total ex petrol sales growth of 7.9 percent.
Like-for-like sales in France edged down 0.7 percent, while that, excluding calendar effect and petrol, grew 2.5 percent. Organically, hypermarkets, supermarkets as well as convenience and other formats in France generated higher sales.
International sales, including VAT, grew 8.4 percent to 11.45 billion euros from last year, with 18.7 percent growth in Latin America, 6.6 percent in Asia, and 2.2 percent in other European countries. Organic sales in international markets grew 3.6 percent.
Sales in international markets were boosted by growth in Europe, particularly in Italy, and continued strong performance in Latin America, particularly in Brazil.
Like-for-like sales in international markets increased 2.5 percent, and like-for-like sales, excluding calendar effect and petrol, grew 2.2 percent. Like-for-like sales were positive in other European countries and Latin America, but negative in Asia.
As at the end of March, Carrefour had the total network of 11,847 stores. ■