Core Viewpoint - Carrefour is set to completely exit the Chinese market, marking a significant shift in the retail landscape as traditional hypermarket models lose their competitive edge to local retailers with agile supply chains and digital capabilities [1][5][14]. Company Summary - Carrefour's official WeChat account has been renamed from "Carrefour China" to "CACIOUS," indicating a rebranding effort following a debt settlement agreement with Suning.com [1][3]. - The agreement involves Suning International paying Carrefour Group 220 million RMB to resolve all outstanding disputes since the acquisition in 2019, allowing Suning to fully control Carrefour China [5][6]. - Carrefour's operational decline in China has led to significant financial losses, with reported losses of 10.99 billion RMB in 2017 and 5.78 billion RMB in 2018, culminating in a total asset value of 11.5 billion RMB against liabilities of 13.8 billion RMB by the end of 2018 [11][12]. Industry Summary - The exit of Carrefour symbolizes the decline of traditional large-scale supermarkets in China, as local competitors rapidly expand and adapt to changing consumer demands [1][14]. - The retail sector is undergoing a transformation driven by e-commerce and new business models, which have pressured traditional supermarkets to innovate or face closure [16]. - New retail formats such as Hema and Fresh Hema are taking over Carrefour's former locations, indicating a shift towards more consumer-centric and technology-driven retail experiences [16].