Extensive Reading Lesson 113

家乐福在华遭信任危机
Carrefour faces confidence crisis

家乐福在华遭信任危机

 

据新华社报道，法国超市业巨头家乐福去年在中国关闭了两家门店。家乐福自1995年进驻中国这个世界上人口最多的市场以来，关闭门店尚属首次。家乐福在中国某些地区的撤离，引发信任危机，也反映了它在取得盈利方面所遭遇的难题。

具有优势的商业模式给家乐福带来了巨大收益，也相应刺激了零售链的扩张。但由于自满和 疏忽，在全国范围内迅速扩张的同时，家乐福也开始与丑闻联系起来，包括售卖假货、过期物品，以及行贿地方政府官员。对此家乐福以各式的理由搪塞，并把这些 丑闻归结于员工个人行为。不过，中国消费者并未因此买账，家乐福的企业形象也未能改观。

Carrefour faces confidence crisis

Carrefour closed two stores in China last year, which marked the first time the French retailing giant has ever shut down part of its business in China since it entered the world's most populous market in 1995. The regional shrinkage represents Carrefour's challenge of maintaining profits in China, and has caused a crisis of confidence, Xinhua reported.

Carrefour's huge profits in China are due to its advantageous business model that's helped the retail chain grow. But complacence and negligence kicked in. Along with its drastic expansion nationwide, Carrefour started to be associated with scandals such as selling fake and expired goods, and bribing local government officials. Carrefour offered various excuses and attributed the faults to individuals, but that failed to appease Chinese customers and improve its corporate image.