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Carrefour Ends National Brand in Rio Grande do Sul After More Than Three Decades, Closing Last Four Stores in September and Betting on Strengthening Formats Like Atacadão and Sam’s Club.
As previously published by CPG, the Carrefour confirmed that the National brand is coming to an end in Rio Grande do Sul with a clearance sale to clear stock.
The move marks the end of a presence of over three decades in the state and comes amid a reorientation of the business towards larger scale formats, such as Atacadão and Sam’s Club.
According to a report published by the newspaper Zero Hora this Sunday (14), the Nacional do Jardim Leopoldina in Porto Alegre is expected to close on September 30.
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In Montenegro, the operation ended sales with a total clearance and deactivation scheduled for mid-September.
In Santa Maria and Santa Cruz do Sul, the closure is planned for this month, with dates indicated by local unions.
Some of the locations will be taken over by regional chains.
Closures in Rio Grande do Sul
In the capital, the Jardim Leopoldina unit is the last store of the brand still open and operates until the deadline of 09/30, as long as stock lasts.
In Montenegro, after more than 30 years of operation, there was a total clearance before the definitive shutdown of operations around 09/13.
For Santa Maria and Santa Cruz do Sul, the closure is also planned for September, operating under the same regime until shelves are empty.
According to reports from the newspaper Zero Hora, the clearance in the interior cities had already been underway since the beginning of the month, which accelerated the closure process.
New Occupants of the Properties
The address in Montenegro will be occupied by the Mombach chain, which plans to open its fourth store in the city after renovating the property.
The sites in Santa Maria and Santa Cruz do Sul have been negotiated with the Grupo Osmar Nicolini, which began transitioning 11 units of the former National Network in various towns in Rio Grande do Sul in July.
The newspaper Zero Hora also pointed out that these negotiations were seen as an opportunity to strengthen local chains in strategic areas.
Impact on Jobs
At the Porto Alegre unit, the workforce varies between 50 and 70 workers, according to the local union.
In Santa Maria, the entity points to about 60 employees. In Santa Cruz do Sul, there are 45 employees.
Chains taking over locations state, in sector communications, that they intend to fill vacancies in the new operations, depending on each project and renovation schedule.
How the Decision Was Made
The move concludes a process initiated after the acquisition of the Grupo BIG in 2022, when Carrefour put the brand’s stores up for sale.
Throughout 2024 and 2025, the company sold locations, converted units to other brands in the group, and announced that the rest would close by the first half of 2025.
However, part of the timeline has been extended.
In an interview with the newspaper Zero Hora, the CEO of Carrefour in Latin America, Pablo Lorenzo, stated that the intention is to focus efforts on operational models with greater efficiency and lower costs, such as cash-and-carry and shopping clubs.
Dimension of the Divestment
According to statements and sector reports, the Nacional brand had 47 stores in the country, with 39 in Rio Grande do Sul.
Of these, some were sold to regional chains and another portion underwent conversion within the group itself.
The majority of the locations occupied leased properties, which shaped the exit alternatives — sale, transfer, or decommissioning.
Carrefour’s Strategy
The current strategy of Carrefour prioritizes large stores and lower operational costs, with Atacadão and Sam’s Club as growth vectors.
In parallel, clearances occurred to clear stock in the units that ended services, a common practice in store deactivation processes.
What do you think about Carrefour’s strategy for Brazil? Do you agree or disagree? Leave your opinion in the comments. Until next time!
Cuidado gente! Eu recebi esta semana (hj é 5/12) um tel dizendo que eu estava devendo o Carrefour! Eu tive um cartão Carrefour há anos atrás – uns 10 anos atrás, no mínimo, mas resolvi não ter mais cartões daqui e dali e só tenho um agora pr tudo – há anos. Nem tem Carrefour mais aqui em Niterói há um bom tempo – anos! Acho que pode ter no Rio mas estou vendo que está fechando tb se já não fechou!!! Ai me ligaram dizendo que eu estou devendo ao Carrefour e eu disse que: 1 – nao tenho esse cartão. 2 não vou nesse mercado há anos, desde que fechou aqui em Niterói!
POIS QUE SEJA EXTERMINADA ESTA REDE ASSASSINA
DE DOGUINHOS INOCENTES. O MANCHINHA ASSASSINADO
DE FORMA CRUEL , MORTO A PAULADAS DEPOIS DE TER SIDO
ENVENENADO POR ORDEM DE UM DOS SEUS DIRETORES, JAMAIS
SERÁ ESQUECIDO. ****!
Por que será que o Wal Mart saiu do Brasil durante o Governo Bolsonaro?
Jaime , esta desatualizado em gênero e grau … o Wal Mart não saiu do Br , em Recife e Brasília existem lojas , eae ?
O Walmart saiu do Brasil porque o seu modelo de negócio não se adaptou ao mercado local, enfrentando desafios como a complexidade tributária e a forte concorrência do atacarejo e do e-commerce. A empresa tentou impor estratégias norte-americanas que não funcionaram no Brasil, resultando em prejuízos e, em 2018, a venda da maior parte da operação para o fundo Advent, que transformou as lojas em Grupo Big.