Carugate, new ownership and a nostalgic journey into Italy's first Carrefour: this is where 3x2 was born.

Carugate, July 26, 2025 – Carrefour has sold to NewPrinces. The French company's Italian adventure began 53 years ago in Carugate. The first hypermarket of the French chain, the first in Italy, opened in the city just outside Milan, and now it's changing hands. Opened on September 6, 1972, it revolutionized the way people shopped. An economic and social phenomenon, "we had 64 checkouts, covering the distance all the way to Cernusco," say former workers, " this is also where the 3 for 2 concept was born."

They came from all over Italy out of curiosity, so Carugate became the shopping hub , and now here, as in other stores, you can feel the worry about the future. The chain, with more than a thousand stores from north to south, was sold to the group headed by Salerno entrepreneur Angelo Mastrolia , at the helm of an empire that includes Delverde, Corticella, Ciccarese, Polenghi, Centrale del Latte, Torre in Pietra, and Ala among its brands. To take over, he signed an agreement worth approximately €1 billion. Carrefour's last financial year posted losses of €150 million, and the brand had been struggling for some time, so it made the same choice as Auchan: to leave.

The new owner

"This transaction is a key milestone in our growth trajectory," Mastrolia explained. "We have chosen to invest decisively in a strategic asset for the country with the aim of relaunching a widespread network and maximizing synergies between retail and industry."

NewPrinces becomes the second-largest Italian food group by revenue and the largest in the sector in terms of employment, with 13,000 direct employees in Italy and more than 18,000 worldwide, in addition to an additional 11,000 people involved in ancillary activities provided by external companies. Once the transition is completed, the combined revenue of the new ownership will reach approximately €6.9 billion.

"It's a historic step "- says Mayor Luca Maggioni - I hope the staff doesn't have any problems." Just three years ago , he was smiling next to Carrefour executives in front of the cake celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Carugate hypermarket . CEO Christophe Rabatel announced a 100% transformation of the sales network by 2024. In the meantime, however, the numbers are becoming increasingly difficult to balance. For many customers, it's the end of an era. "My mother took me there shortly after it opened to see something modern," says Francesca Corbetta. " We came home with the 1970s lamp that changed color : I've never forgotten that day."