French retailer Carrefour has reduced headcount at its hypermarket subsidiary from 61,000 in 2017 to 35,000 in 2025, a fall of 26,000. Most jobs were not eliminated but transferred to independent operators as stores moved to lease-management. Carrefour Hypermarchés had 82 of 191 outlets, or 43% of the network, under independent management in 2025, versus 24 in 2021. (Olivier Dauvers)