Why French retailer wants to lock out rivals from malls

Carrefour’s Store Manager at Thika Road Mall, Jean Yves Genies (left) helps pack a customer’s shopping. This is their third branch in Kenya. [David Njaaga, Standard]

French retailer Carrefour has come out to explain why it rattled the retail market with an application to lock out rivals from malls it has signed up as the anchor tenant.

The retailer, which now has three stores in Nairobi, says it is paying a premium in the malls it is renting and one of the reasons is to be allowed exclusivity to be able to make a return on its investment.