New type of urban store is testing in France

The French Casino supermarket chain is testing a new urban store concept for its supermarket banner in Paris.

The store places the Casino private label products in
optimum display positions and offers a broad range of nonfood, including DIY,
kitchenware and books. The store has a sales area of 1,600 square metres and
features a fast food restaurant as well as cheese, meat and charcuterie
sections.
   Also in France, Carrefour is expanding its test of a new hypermarket
design that was introduced last year. The retailer plans to switch nearly 40
stores to the new design by the end of the year and a total of 100 by the end
of 2008.