Carrefour sales have risen 5.5 per cent to e23.11 billion (£16.11 billion) in the three months to September 30.

Strong sales in Spain boosted the supermarket giant’s European growth, with sales in Poland rocketing to almost 54 per cent, following the integration of Ahold Polska.

France was a weak performer, with sales down 2 per cent because of bad weather and a highly competitive market place.

The consolidation of Atacadao in Brazil pushed Carrefour’s Latin America sales up by 49.3 per cent, with sales across Asia up 16.6 per cent on constant exchange rates.

Carrefour opened 385 stores over the last quarter, which accounted for 4 million sq ft (370,000 sq m) of retail space.