Carrefour strikes deal to open company-run stores on Sundays

Carrefour and the trade unions in Belgium have reached a late-night agreement that will see all company-run hypermarkets and Carrefour Market supermarkets open on Sunday mornings from January.

From 18 January, 40 hypermarkets and 43 integrated Carrefour Market stores will open every Sunday from 8am to midday. Until now, only around 600 franchised Carrefour Market and Express shops routinely traded on Sundays.

Staff in integrated stores will work on Sundays only if they volunteer, and they will receive a 50 per cent wage premium. New hires may be required to work Sundays as part of their contract. The deal also includes an increase in contracted hours to 28 per week for staff who do not yet have them, a €1.50 rise in meal vouchers from March 2026, and guaranteed fixed time off in exchange for greater flexibility.

Unions say the agreement offers job-security guarantees, including a commitment not to convert company-run stores into franchises. The issue has been particularly sensitive since Delhaize transferred all 128 of its company stores to independent operators. Carrefour had been accused earlier this week of considering leaving Belgium, a claim the company denies.

Carrefour Belgium said the expanded Sunday opening will improve customer satisfaction and strengthen its market position “in a respectful way for all colleagues”.

The move comes as Sunday trading becomes increasingly common in Belgium. Delhaize’s franchised stores already open on Sundays, and Colruyt’s OKay neighbourhood shops will begin Sunday trading early next year, also with a 50 per cent premium. Pressure is mounting on Aldi, Lidl and the larger Colruyt stores, which say Sunday opening is too costly under current labour rules.

^{© BELGA PHOTO JULIEN WARNAND}