Daniel Bernard, the man who propelled Carrefour to the rank of world number 2, has died at the age of 80.

Daniel Bernard, former CEO of Carrefour and a historical figure in French retail, died on the night of August 4-5, 2026, at the age of 80. He had been suffering from a long illness for several years. At the helm of the group during a pivotal period, he accelerated its international expansion and led the merger with Promodès, making Carrefour the world's second-largest retailer after Walmart.

A manager trained on the ground in the field of large-scale retail

Born into a modest family in northern France and a graduate of HEC Paris in 1969, Daniel Bernard spent most of his career in retail. After starting at Socam Miniprix, he worked for several chains, including Mammouth and Delta, before joining the German Metro Group. He notably headed Metro France and then held international positions within the group. Daniel Bernard joined Carrefour in 1992 as CEO and Chairman of the Management Board. He then refocused the company on its core business and ended several diversification efforts. In 1998, he became Chairman and CEO of the group.

The merger with Promodès propels Carrefour into a new dimension

Under his leadership, Carrefour had significantly accelerated its expansion outside France. The group had grown in Europe, Latin America, and Asia, with the ambition of competing with the world's largest retailers. The decisive turning point came in 1999 with the merger between Carrefour and Promodès, owner of brands such as Continent, Champion, Shopi, and 8 à Huit. This operation created the leading European retailer and the second largest global group in the sector, after Walmart. Daniel Bernard also developed the "Carrefour quality supply chains," based on long-term agreements with agricultural producers. This system was designed to guarantee the quality and traceability of products while establishing more sustainable relationships between the retailer and the agricultural sector.

A brutal dismissal after 13 years at the head of the group

Despite its successes abroad, Carrefour's situation in France had gradually deteriorated. French hypermarkets were losing market share, profits were declining, and the share price had fallen sharply. Daniel Bernard was finally ousted in February 2005, after 13 years at the helm of Carrefour and 7 years as CEO. The financial terms of his departure sparked a heated controversy, particularly regarding a supplementary pension estimated at €1,2 million per year. Its payment was subsequently overturned by the courts. A close family member asserted after his death that he had never received any of this pension.

A career continued at Kingfisher and in the Middle East

After leaving Carrefour, Daniel Bernard remained very active in the business world. He chaired Kingfisher, the British group that owns Castorama, as well as Majid Al Futtaim Retail, based in Dubai and a Carrefour partner in several Middle Eastern countries. He also served on the boards of several major companies, including Capgemini. President of the HEC Foundation from 2008 to 2014, he participated in a €100 million fundraising campaign for the school's development. He subsequently became honorary president of the foundation. Through his investment and consulting firm, Provestis, Daniel Bernard continued to mentor young entrepreneurs. A passionate gardener and opera lover, he was described by those close to him as a man of conviction, deeply committed to passing on his knowledge and experience.

Alexandre Bompard hails him as "a builder" and "a visionary"

Carrefour's current CEO, Alexandre Bompard, paid tribute to a "giant among giants of global retail." He described Daniel Bernard as "a builder," "a conqueror," and "a visionary," with a strong affinity for hands-on operations and attention to detail. Daniel Bernard leaves behind the image of the leader who transformed Carrefour into a major player. By leading the group's international expansion and its historic merger with Promodès, he will have left a lasting mark on the history of French and global retail.