Casino reported €26.75bn (£23.8bn) net sales for 2009 - a 1.2% decrease against the previous year.

Trading profit slid to 4.5% to €1.21bn (£1.1bn) on the previous year.

In France, sales declined by 3.8% on an organic basis, or 2.7% excluding petrol. Meanwhile, Casino’s online general merchandise business Cdiscount reported double-digit sales growth.

This year Casino will continue with its €1bn (£819.5m) asset disposal programme and plans to increase market share in France by improving pricecompetitiveness and by speeding up expansion in convenience and discount stores.