Carrefour CEO: 50 stores and almost 20 supermarkets ransacked during riots in France

Carrefour stores targeted

Alexandre Bompard, who leads Carrefour, said 50 of the company’s stores were targeted by rioters on Saturday. He posted his response on X on Sunday as France faced widespread civil unrest and looting.

Bompard condemned the attacks and praised Carrefour employees. He said the violence was unacceptable and called for shopkeepers to be protected.

Calls for accountability

In his post, Bompard said those who attacked businesses and their teams should face an uncompromising response. He also urged the Republic to protect shopkeepers. Bompard said about 1,500 other shops were damaged during the riots. He called for faster compensation procedures for affected shopkeepers, comparing the need to those used after natural disasters.

Arrests and repair costs

The riots followed demonstrations that began peacefully over the high cost of living and deteriorating school conditions, then turned violent. Images from Paris and other French cities showed large demonstrations, burning cars and damaged storefronts.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 600 police officers were injured and more than 2,000 people were arrested. Bompard estimated Carrefour’s repair costs at more than 10 million euros.