Carrefour Express Halle refurbishes store and adds services

Christophe Demir has extensively refurbished his Carrefour Express on Sint-Rochusstraat in Halle, Belgium. The franchisee, who has run the store for nine years, has combined a new interior with a more spacious layout and additional services. Alongside their grocery shopping, customers can now prepare their own noodles and print photos. A Vinted Go parcel locker is set to follow from 2027.

Refurbishment by an established local retailer

The refurbishment was reported by Made in on 9 November. Demir opted for a renovation based on the Express 4.0 concept, but the local aim is straightforward: to make it easier for customers to move around the store and make their visit more enjoyable. A more logical, spacious layout is intended to help achieve this.

“Everything we changed had to contribute to a smooth and pleasant shopping experience,” Demir says in the report. His emphasis is on how customers use the store day to day, rather than simply its new look.

After nine years, Demir is a familiar face to many customers. The refurbishment therefore builds on an established business with a well-known operator. This is not a new opening or a takeover, but an investment in the continued development of his store.

That makes the refurbishment relevant to Belgium’s franchise community: alongside new openings, existing franchisees are also developing their ranges and services. In Halle, this is happening while retaining the store’s familiar role as a place to buy groceries.

Noodles, photos and, soon, parcels

One notable addition is the ‘Make your noodles’ station, where customers can prepare their own noodles. It complements the existing range for shoppers looking for a quick bite, including ready meals and hot snacks.

The store also has a photo printer. Customers can print photos directly from their smartphone or a USB stick. This adds a practical service unrelated to food shopping, but one that can be used during the same visit.

The announced Vinted Go parcel locker is planned from 2027. That timing matters: the locker is part of a planned expansion of services and has not been presented as already available.

The new services build on an existing range. Customers can still visit the store for fresh coffee and fruit juice, flowers and plants, newspapers and magazines, lottery products, public transport tickets and mobile phone top-up cards. The refurbishment expands this offer rather than replacing it.

Fresh food remains at the core

Despite the additional facilities, fresh food remains central to the store. The range includes fruit and vegetables, bread and sweet pastries baked on site, fish, meat, cold cuts and cheese. For customers doing their everyday grocery shopping, these categories remain the main reason to visit.

The store also caters for people who are short of time or do not want to cook an elaborate meal, offering ready meals and hot snacks. The new noodle station provides another option alongside the existing convenience food range.

Services also extend beyond visits to the physical store. Groceries can be delivered through rapid delivery services such as Uber Eats. Products approaching their expiry date are offered at a low price through Too Good To Go.

The report on Halle includes no turnover figures or post-refurbishment results. The changes described concern the layout, product range and services. It is not yet possible to infer whether they have also increased footfall or sales.

A local example for existing franchise stores

The approach in Halle shows how a franchisee can refresh an existing store without abandoning its familiar role. Demir combines an updated layout with new facilities while retaining the fresh food range and previous services.

For other entrepreneurs in the franchise community, the distinction between available and planned services is particularly useful. The noodle station and photo printer are part of the refurbishment described; the Vinted Go locker is a further step planned from 2027. This also calls for clear communication with customers about what they can expect and when.

Practical takeaway: when refurbishing a store, consider not only the interior but also how customers move around it and use additional services. Make clear which facilities are available immediately and which will follow later.