Carrefour has recorded a 5.5% rise in first-quarter sales to €23.96bn (£21.4bn). French retail sales rose 2.1% due to strong growth from supermarkets, although hypermarkets continued to suffer with like-for-like sales down 1.2%.

Western Europe, excluding France, also struggled in the period with like-for-likes down 2.4%. Growth was primarily driven from its Latin American operations, where like-for-likes were up 10%, while Asian revenue rose 1.6% in the quarter.

Chief financial officer Pierre Bouchut confirmed that Carrefour will look to make acquisitions in Brazil, China and Spain.