(Yicai Global) May 9 -- A sale of its Chinese business is "not on the agenda," a spokeswoman for Carrefour who requested anonymity told Yicai Global, responding to a media report that claimed the French retail giant is considering just such a divestment.

Carrefour is "weighing options" that include selling its business in China, Bloomberg News reported yesterday, citing unidentified people with knowledge of the matter. The retailer seeks a potential buyer willing to pay about USD1 billion, but may opt to sell only part or decide against a sale, the report added.

The grocery titan, which is based in Boulogne-Billancourt, has denied all claims made over the last two years that it will quit China.

All of its businesses have excelled of late. Like-for-like group sales rose 1.4 percent to EUR85 billion (USD95.2 billion) last year, with a 4.6 percent profit rise. In China profit jumped 11 times to CNY350 million (USD37 million) in 2018 from a year earlier, underpinning the sharp increase in group earnings.

Editor: Ben Armour