French retailers Carrefour and Casino have both announced sales increases for the fourth quarter of 2012, not least thanks to encouraging results in emerging markets.
Carrefour recorded an increase of 0.8 per cent to €22.9bn, with full-year sales rising by 1 per cent to €86.6bn.
Sales in Latin America were up 4.8 per cent, with continued strong growth seen in Brazil, while sales in Asia were up 5.6 per cent due to expansion in China.
As for Europe, a drop in consumption in southern Europe and Poland contributed to a drop in sales at Carrefour of 2.4 per cent, despite positive performances in France and Belgium.
At Casino, consolidated sales for the fourth quarter climbed by 35.2 per cent compared with the previous year, thanks to a 76 per cent increase in international sales following the consolidation of Brazil's Grupo Pao de Acucar last July.
Although overall sales increased to €12.9bn compared with the previous year, sales in France fell by 3.1 per cent to €4.76bn, partly as a result of price drops and a lack of promotional activitiy.
