Carrefour, operated by UAE-based Majid Al Futtaim (MAF), has exited four countries in the Middle East over the past ten months. The supermarket chain has closed its stores in Jordan, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait. While the company offered no official financial or operational reasons for the closures, it is a significant shift in the regional retail landscape.

---

The Rise of HyperMax

As Carrefour has scaled back, its operator, Majid Al Futtaim, has simultaneously expanded its own grocery brand, HyperMax. The new brand, which emphasizes partnerships with local suppliers and producers, has opened new locations in the countries where Carrefour has ceased operations. Following Carrefour’s exit from Bahrain, MAF announced the opening of six HyperMax stores in the country. The brand now has 60 locations across three markets.

What This Means for the Region

While HyperMax is immediately replacing Carrefour in these specific markets, MAF has stated that there are no immediate plans to expand the HyperMax brand beyond Jordan, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait. The lack of detailed public statements on the closures and the simultaneous expansion of a new brand under the same parent company suggests a strategic shift in MAF’s retail operations across the region.