Carrefour acquires Codifrance, requests store protection amid French protests

Carrefour announced the acquisition of Codifrance and has requested police protection for stores looted during weekend protests in France, which were driven by cost-of-living pressures and proposed public spending cuts. The acquisition signals continued consolidation in the French retail sector, while the looting underscores rising social unrest that could pressure consumer sentiment and government policy. The protests' scale and duration remain uncertain, but they pose a risk to retail operations and broader economic stability.