- Carrefour operates 148 franchise stores in Israel through Electra Consumer Products (49.49% owned by Elco Ltd), a company UN-listed for settlement-related construction activities, including documented stores in West Bank settlements. - Carrefour Israel secured loans from four UN-listed Israeli banks—Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi, Mizrahi Tefahot, and Israel Discount Bank—raising economic complicity concerns. - The company provided NIS 33,705 in food and beverages to COGAT, the Israeli military body administering occupied territory, in 2024, including supplies for soldiers during Gaza operations. - CEO Alexandre Bompard has repeatedly denied any presence in occupied territory despite documented evidence of stores in settlements such as Maccabim and Neve Ya'akov. - A UN Special Rapporteur report cited Carrefour among 104 corporations operating in what it described as an "economy of occupation and genocide."
Table of Contents
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Legal Name | Carrefour S.A. |
| Headquarters | Massy, France (Euronext Paris: CA) |
| Sector | Retail (hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores) |
| Ownership | Publicly traded; controlling shareholders include the Saadé family (4% stake, December 2025) |
| Israeli Nexus | Franchise operations via Global Retail C.I. Ltd (49.49% owned by Elco Ltd); stores in Israeli settlements; COGAT military supply contracts; financing from UN-listed banks |
Carrefour Group, one of the world’s largest retail chains, maintains significant operational presence in Israel through a franchise arrangement with Electra Consumer Products Ltd, a company linked to the Elco Ltd group, which is listed in the UN OHCHR business and human rights database for settlement-related activities. The franchise operates 148 Carrefour-branded stores in Israel as of August 2025, including two documented locations in Israeli settlements in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem4.
The strongest documented vectors of complicity are economic and political. The franchise relationship with Electra Group entities connects Carrefour to settlement infrastructure development through Elco Ltd’s UN-listed construction subsidiary Electra Ltd. Carrefour Israel secured loans from four Israeli banks—Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi, Mizrahi Tefahot, and Israel Discount Bank—all listed in the UN OHCHR settlement database5. Additionally, Carrefour Israel provided food and beverages worth NIS 33,705 to COGAT, the Israeli military body administering occupied territory, in 20242. CEO Alexandre Bompard has repeatedly denied any presence in occupied territory, a statement contradicted by documented evidence of stores in Maccabim and Neve Ya’akov4.
No public evidence was found linking Carrefour to direct defence contracting, digital surveillance technology deployment, or weapons systems supply. The company does not operate R&D facilities in Israel and has no documented role in military technology development. The V-MIL score reflects documented COGAT supply and franchise ties to UN-listed entities, while V-DIG found no evidence of military-grade technology relationships. The V-ECON and V-POL domains carry the highest scores due to settlement operations, financial relationships with listed banks, and explicit corporate denials contradicted by evidence.
The resulting BRS score of 667 places Carrefour in Tier B (Severe), driven primarily by economic and political complicity vectors.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 2022 | Carrefour signs 20-year franchise agreement with Electra Consumer Products and Yenot Bitan (now Global Retail C.I. Ltd)1 |
| May 2023 | Carrefour Israel partners with six Israeli startups including Juganu (active in settlements Har Homa and Beitar Illit)6 |
| October 2023 | Carrefour Jerusalem store holds fundraiser “for our brave soldiers”; Carrefour Israel sends 6,000 food packages to Gaza-operation soldiers6 |
| Early 2023 | Carrefour Israel secures loans from four UN-listed Israeli banks (Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi, Mizrahi Tefahot, Israel Discount Bank)5 |
| February 2024 | Franchise agreement extended by 7 years; 97 Carrefour branches operating in Israel2 |
| July 2024 | ICJ issues advisory opinion on Israeli settlement illegality |
| November 2024 | Carrefour closes all Jordan branches following BDS boycott campaign8 |
| May 2025 | CEO Alexandre Bompard repeats denial of occupied territory presence despite documented evidence to contrary4 |
| July 2025 | UN Special Rapporteur report A/HRC/59/23 cites Carrefour among 104 corporations in “economy of occupation and genocide”7 |
| March 2026 | Al-Haq publishes investigation documenting Carrefour stores in settlements; franchisee operates stores in Ariel, Alfei Menashe, Ma’ale Adumim, Beit El, Modi’in Illit, Kokhav Ya’akov under original banners4 |
| April 2026 | Carrefour Israel signs $50 million five-year agreement with A2Z Cust2Mate for 4,000 smart shopping carts3 |
Carrefour Group operates globally through a combination of wholly-owned subsidiaries, joint ventures, and franchise arrangements. The Israeli operation is structured as a franchise, not a direct subsidiary. In March 2022, Carrefour signed a 20-year franchise agreement with Electra Consumer Products Ltd (TASE: ECP) and Yenot Bitan, which consolidated as Global Retail C.I. Ltd12.
Ownership structure of Global Retail C.I. Ltd:
– Electra Consumer Products: 49.49%
– Nurit Bitan: 22.56%
– Nachum Menachem Bitan: 22.56%
– PFH Group: 16.03%
– Phoenix Financial: 11.9%2
Electra Consumer Products is 49.49% owned by Elco Ltd, a publicly traded Israeli conglomerate. Elco’s sister company, Electra Ltd, is listed in the UN OHCHR database under categories (e) and (g) for construction and infrastructure supporting settlements712. The franchise was extended by seven years in February 20242.
Carrefour-branded stores operate in Israel under the brands Carrefour, Mega, Mega in the City, and Yenot Bitan. As of August 2025, 148 Carrefour branches were operating in Israel, up from 97 in June 2024 and 77 at the end of 202325.
Carrefour Israel’s documented military involvement consists of three vectors. First, the company provided food and beverages to COGAT (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories)—the Israeli military body administering the West Bank and Gaza—worth NIS 33,705 in 2024, including NIS 9,610 specifically for events25. Second, in October 2023, a Carrefour store in Jerusalem’s Ramat Beit Hakerem held a fundraiser “for our brave soldiers” during the Gaza military offensive6. Third, Carrefour Israel sent over 6,000 food packages to Israeli soldiers involved in Gaza operations, confirmed by the company in a statement to the Jerusalem Post6.
The franchise relationship with Electra Consumer Products connects Carrefour to Elco Ltd, whose sister company Electra Ltd is listed in the UN OHCHR database for providing construction and infrastructure services supporting settlements712.
Carrefour’s strongest defence regarding military involvement is the indirect nature of the franchise relationship. The company does not directly operate stores in Israel; Global Retail C.I. Ltd is the franchisee, and Carrefour Group receives royalty payments under commercial terms. The COGAT contract, while documented, represents a relatively modest value (NIS 33,705 ≈ $10,000) compared to Carrefour’s overall operations. No evidence links Carrefour to direct contracts with the Israeli Ministry of Defense, IDF, Israel Prison Service, or Israel Border Police beyond the COGAT supply relationship.
The company does not manufacture or sell militarised product variants, and no documented cases link Carrefour to defence prime contractors including Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, or Israel Military Industries.
Carrefour has partnered with multiple Israeli technology startups. In May 2023, Carrefour announced partnerships with six Israeli startups: AI21 Labs (artificial intelligence), Juganu (lighting infrastructure), Iguazio (AI, subsequently acquired by McKinsey/QuantumBlack), Vulcan (cybersecurity), Cymbio (marketplace automation), and Foodsmarter (dynamic pricing)1. In 2025, Carrefour Israel partnered with Pairzon, an Israeli AI marketing platform2. In April 2026, Carrefour Israel signed a $50 million five-year agreement with A2Z Cust2Mate, an Israeli smart shopping cart provider, to deploy 4,000 smart carts across all 97 branches nationwide3.
Juganu, one of the startup partners, maintains operations in the settlements of Har Homa and Beitar Illit57. The A2Z contract grants the Israeli company exclusive retail media and data monetization rights, indicating deep integration with critical retail infrastructure3.
No public evidence was identified linking Carrefour to surveillance, biometrics, or predictive policing technologies. The documented technology partnerships represent commercial arrangements with civilian applications—AI, lighting, cybersecurity, and smart retail infrastructure. No evidence connects Carrefour to Trigo, BriefCam, AnyVision/Oosto, or Trax technologies used by other retailers for checkout-free shopping or computer vision surveillance.
No evidence was found of Carrefour operating data centres in Israel, participating in Project Nimbus (the $1.2 billion Google/Amazon Israeli government cloud contract), or providing technology to Israeli military or intelligence bodies. The documented technology partnerships are with civilian commercial enterprises, not defence or security sector entities.
Carrefour’s economic complicity is the strongest documented vector. The franchise relationship with Electra Consumer Products connects Carrefour to Elco Ltd, which is listed in the UN OHCHR settlement database for construction and infrastructure activities supporting settlements712. The franchise operates 148 stores in Israel, including two documented locations in settlements (Maccabim and Neve Ya’akov)4.
Carrefour Israel secured loans from four Israeli banks in early 2023—Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi, Mizrahi Tefahot, and Israel Discount Bank—all listed in the UN OHCHR settlement database5. The company participates in the “Israeli Basket” (Sal HaKesef) state subsidy program, receiving NIS 50 million in government funding and offering discounted products in 51 branches1314.
The franchisee reported Q2 2025 revenue of NIS 840 million with operating profit of NIS 52 million, representing a 70% year-over-year increase5. Electra Consumer Products reported 2024 revenue of $1.96 billion5.
Carrefour’s strongest economic defence is the franchise structure—the company does not directly own or operate stores in Israel, and Global Retail C.I. Ltd is an independent legal entity. The company has not issued explicit statements on settlement-origin product labeling despite French regulatory requirements dating to November 2016. No specific evidence was found of direct supply contracts with settlement agricultural exporters Mehadrin or Hadiklaim.
The company has not issued Israeli sovereign bonds or Development Corporation for Israel instruments. The specific franchise fee or royalty payment flows from Global Retail to Carrefour Group are not disclosed in public records.
Carrefour Group discreetly withdrew Carrefour-brand products from some settlement stores in 2024 while the franchise agreement continues3.
Carrefour’s political complicity is evidenced by settlement operations and corporate denials contradicted by evidence. CEO Alexandre Bompard has repeatedly stated “there have never been and there will never be any Carrefour stores in occupied territory” in May 2023, 2024, and 20254. This denial is directly contradicted by documented evidence of two Carrefour-branded stores in settlements: Maccabim (Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut) and Neve Ya’akov (occupied East Jerusalem)4.
The franchisee operates six additional stores under original banners (Yenot Bitan, Mehadrin Market) in West Bank settlements including Ariel, Alfei Menashe, Ma’ale Adumim, Beit El, Modi’in Illit, and Kokhav Ya’akov4.
Carrefour is explicitly named in Francesca Albanese’s July 2025 UN Special Rapporteur report A/HRC/59/23 as one of 104 corporations involved in the “economy of occupation and genocide”710. An active BDS boycott campaign cites settlement operations and corporate complicity6.
Carrefour’s strongest political defence is the franchise structure and the company’s position that operations represent standard commercial activity. The company has not issued statements supporting Israeli military operations or opposing ceasefire efforts. No evidence was found of corporate lobbying related to boycotts or trade legislation.
No evidence links Carrefour to founders or executives holding positions in settlement organisations, FIDF, JNF/KKL, or defence entities. The company is subject to French Law No. 2017-399 (Loi de Vigilance) but no specific regulatory actions regarding settlement operations have been identified.
The Jordan closure in November 2024 following a boycott campaign demonstrates commercial pressure rather than political positioning by the company.
| Domain | I | M | P | V-Domain Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V-MIL | 5.00 | 3.00 | 4.50 | 1.38 |
| V-DIG | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| V-ECON | 8.50 | 7.50 | 8.50 | 8.50 |
| V-POL | 8.70 | 7.00 | 8.50 | 8.70 |
The V_MAX of 8.70 in V-POL reflects the documented presence of Carrefour-branded stores in Israeli settlements (Maccabim, Neve Ya’akov) combined with explicit corporate denials contradicted by evidence, and citation in the UN Special Rapporteur’s economy of occupation report. The Tier B (Severe) classification results from the combination of economic complicity through franchise relationships with UN-listed entities, financial relationships with settlement-listed banks, and the political dimension of settlement operations with documented corporate misrepresentation.
https://www.carrefour.com/sites/default/files/2023-05/PR%20Carrefour%20enters%20into%20partnerships%20with%20six%20Israeli%20start-ups.pdf ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩
https://www.whoprofits.org/companies/company/7373 ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/carrefour-israel-and-a2z-cust2mate-to-deploy-4-000-smart-shopping-carts-nationwide-302734361.html ↩↩↩↩↩
https://www.france-palestine.org/IMG/pdf/20250715_note_actu_carrefour_aou_t_2024_en_vdef2.pdf ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩
https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/majid-al-futtaim-replaces-carrefour-jordan-with-new-arab-grocery-chain-2024-11-05 ↩
https://www.newarab.com/news/carrefour-guards-tunisia-assault-pro-palestine-protesters ↩
https://law4palestine.org/summary-of-the-un-special-rapporteurs-report-on-corporate-complicity-in-the-economy-of-occupation-and-genocide-including-a-list-of-referenced-companies ↩↩
https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/carrefour-lawsuit-re-human-rights-and-environmental-issues-in-tuna-supply-chain-filed-in-france ↩
https://bdsmovement.net/news/Carrefour-Deepens-Complicity-In-Israeli-Apartheid-Global-BDS-Pressure-Grows ↩↩
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/426527 ↩
