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PASSIONS FOR CARREFOUR: DELAY IN FAMOUS FRENCH RETAILER'S ARRIVAL IN ARMENIA LINKED TO 'OLIGARCHIC' OPPOSITION
http://armenianow.com/economy/business/42946/armenia_carrefour_french_retailer_supermarkets
BUSINESS | 30.01.13 | 13:04
By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Europe's largest supermarket chain owner Carrefour is still studying
the Armenian market. Despite expectations in Yerevan that already this
year the Armenian capital would get an international supermarket,
the French multinational retailer's representatives have indicated
that it could take another year before the company enters Armenia.
The French Carrefour supermarket chain has space in the newly
opened Dalma Garden Mall in Yerevan where the signs on the doors
of what looks like a supermarket space read since October: "Opening
Soon". As the opening of the supermarket has not taken place to date
(and especially since in neighboring Georgia Carrefour already opened
its supermarket in September) the Armenian media began to speculate
that its opening is hampered by local oligarchs. According to some
press reports, due to its much cheaper products and import of own
goods Carrefour's presence would take a bite out of the businesses of
local importing and retail trade businesses, in particular the Yerevan
City supermarket chain owned by government-linked MP Samvel Alexanyan.
The opposition Haykakan Zhamanak daily wrote last week that according
to its reliable information, senior Carrefour representatives have
for a long time tried to meet the highest leadership of Armenia,
but have not succeeded in doing that yet.
"Our [leadership] finds pretexts for not meeting Carrefour
representatives, saying it is now a presidential election, that
[President] Serzh Sargsyan and [Prime Minister] Tigran Sargsyan
are very busy. But delaying meetings with Carrefour representatives
is actually connected with the fact that they cannot answer their
questions yet," writes the newspaper.
This publication was followed by a story in Emedia.am, claiming that
instead of Carrefour, Dalma Gardens Mall will have another Yerevan
City store.
In reply to a written inquiry of ArmeniaNow, a Carrefour Group
press officer said that according to its strategy of Carrefour brand
development, "Majid Al Futtaim Group continues to study the Armenian
market and has a goal of opening its first store within the next
12 months."
The company that belongs to Arab billionaire Majid Al Futtaim and
bears his name is developing the Carrefour brand in the Middle East
and Central Asia.
Economic commentator Armenak Chatinyan told ArmeniaNow that Carrefour's
entrance will certainly bring in more competition to the Armenian
market.
"The entrance of any such big brand will in a certain way liven
up competition, but the thing is that one of our large companies
[referring to Alexanyan's company] is working in not such a clean
tax environment. It is not clear how long Carrefour will be able to
compete in such conditions, but if such a brand is coming, it is not
ruled out that they may have prior arrangements with the authorities,"
says Chatinyan.
Companies owned by Alexanyan's extended family have repeatedly denied
having any privileged position on the market.
Civilnet.am, citing its own sources, writes that besides Dalma Gardens
Mall Carrefour also plans opening two more hypermarkets in Yerevan -
one near the Hayranik Cinema House in Arshakunyats Avenue and the
other on the Yerevan-Sevan highway.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://armenianow.com/economy/business/42946/armenia_carrefour_french_retailer_supermarkets
BUSINESS | 30.01.13 | 13:04
By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Europe's largest supermarket chain owner Carrefour is still studying
the Armenian market. Despite expectations in Yerevan that already this
year the Armenian capital would get an international supermarket,
the French multinational retailer's representatives have indicated
that it could take another year before the company enters Armenia.
The French Carrefour supermarket chain has space in the newly
opened Dalma Garden Mall in Yerevan where the signs on the doors
of what looks like a supermarket space read since October: "Opening
Soon". As the opening of the supermarket has not taken place to date
(and especially since in neighboring Georgia Carrefour already opened
its supermarket in September) the Armenian media began to speculate
that its opening is hampered by local oligarchs. According to some
press reports, due to its much cheaper products and import of own
goods Carrefour's presence would take a bite out of the businesses of
local importing and retail trade businesses, in particular the Yerevan
City supermarket chain owned by government-linked MP Samvel Alexanyan.
The opposition Haykakan Zhamanak daily wrote last week that according
to its reliable information, senior Carrefour representatives have
for a long time tried to meet the highest leadership of Armenia,
but have not succeeded in doing that yet.
"Our [leadership] finds pretexts for not meeting Carrefour
representatives, saying it is now a presidential election, that
[President] Serzh Sargsyan and [Prime Minister] Tigran Sargsyan
are very busy. But delaying meetings with Carrefour representatives
is actually connected with the fact that they cannot answer their
questions yet," writes the newspaper.
This publication was followed by a story in Emedia.am, claiming that
instead of Carrefour, Dalma Gardens Mall will have another Yerevan
City store.
In reply to a written inquiry of ArmeniaNow, a Carrefour Group
press officer said that according to its strategy of Carrefour brand
development, "Majid Al Futtaim Group continues to study the Armenian
market and has a goal of opening its first store within the next
12 months."
The company that belongs to Arab billionaire Majid Al Futtaim and
bears his name is developing the Carrefour brand in the Middle East
and Central Asia.
Economic commentator Armenak Chatinyan told ArmeniaNow that Carrefour's
entrance will certainly bring in more competition to the Armenian
market.
"The entrance of any such big brand will in a certain way liven
up competition, but the thing is that one of our large companies
[referring to Alexanyan's company] is working in not such a clean
tax environment. It is not clear how long Carrefour will be able to
compete in such conditions, but if such a brand is coming, it is not
ruled out that they may have prior arrangements with the authorities,"
says Chatinyan.
Companies owned by Alexanyan's extended family have repeatedly denied
having any privileged position on the market.
Civilnet.am, citing its own sources, writes that besides Dalma Gardens
Mall Carrefour also plans opening two more hypermarkets in Yerevan -
one near the Hayranik Cinema House in Arshakunyats Avenue and the
other on the Yerevan-Sevan highway.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress