On Las Ramblas, Carrefour acts as a compact hub rather than a full-scale hypermarket. The gap on the shelves is striking. Near a seven-shelf display of Carrefour brand potato chips, Frit Ravich, Espinaler, and San Nicasio, two identical cabinets show the same story: shelves are nearly empty. Lay’s Gourmet, with about six bags on one side and a similar assortment elsewhere, remains the most visible potato chip option, followed by a handful of very salty, ham and cheese flavored varieties. This is the last trace of PepsiCo’s bagged chips in the area. Recent actions in France showed Carrefour stopping all PepsiCo products due to an unacceptable price rise, a decision that was to continue at least through 2020. The move is echoed in Belgium, Spain, and Italy. In the Catalan capital, public notices about this decision were not widely posted in the same way as in France, but many Carrefour locations in the city have already felt the impact.
In a specific Carrefour Market on Las Ramblas, the store managers attribute the stock shortage to the central location and the heavy tourist traffic, a reality that can lead to rapid product turnover and, at times, deliberate allocation practices. This pressure is also felt on beverage shelves as rival Coca-Cola competes for shelf space in Catalonia. Without clear information on future deliveries, a Carrefour Market representative simply stated that the company had no new stock updates. A different Carrefour Market in the chain’s Barcelona network responded with the same message: there is no information about restocking. The result is a visible thinning of Lay’s on shelves across multiple Carrefour Markets in Barcelona, with some items already missing entirely.
PepsiCo faces Carrefour friction
PepsiCo issued a statement asserting ongoing negotiations with Carrefour, emphasizing that talks have continued in good faith to ensure product availability. They noted that discussions have been taking place for months and would continue to find a workable contract that keeps their products on the shelves. This stance, however, contrasts with reports from international outlets. Wall Street Magazine quoted a PepsiCo spokesperson saying the company had ended the relationship with Carrefour when no agreement could be reached for a new contract, but expressed hope that dialogue would resume so products could return to Carrefour shelves. The timing and framing of these remarks suggest a broader dispute that might affect distribution beyond a single market.
Reaction from other supermarkets shows this is not an isolated tactic by Carrefour. A recent industry note hinted at a France-wide campaign last year that highlighted product placements on the same shelves, a practice described as repositioning to offer fewer items at unchanged prices. Analysts commented that the approach signals a tougher stance on pricing and availability, a move some shoppers perceive as a price increase from the outset rather than a failing shelf strategy. This perspective makes people question whether other chains could adopt similar measures in response to margin pressures.
As Carrefour remains the second-largest player in Spain’s supermarket sector, such moves carry more weight. Competitors largely declined to comment, while industry associations offered cautious analysis. The sense is that profit margins are tightening across manufacturing, distribution, and retail, yet every company manages its own pricing and bargaining approach. A competing chain spokesperson suggested that the measure could extend beyond Carrefour, indicating broader market signals that suppliers and retailers should monitor closely.