India Carrefour

The French retail chain Carrefour is rumoured to be finalising lease deals across 10 to 12 sites in India to open cash-and-carry outlets, reports India's the Business Standard.

Industry sources told the paper that the new stores would be operational in a staggered timeline, with the first due to be unveiled in Jaipur as early as next month.An outlet in Pune is likely to follow the Jaipur launch, sources said.

Each store is expected to span 60,000-75,000ft2.

Carrefour has not confirmed the reports, but in October its CFO Pierre-Jean Sivignon revealed the company would pursue its growth ambitions in key emerging markets, the Business Standard said.

The retailer, the world's second largest, launched its first India store in New Delhi last December.

The chain operates in 32 countries and has 9,500 stores.