Carrefour opens AI-driven BuyBye store in Belgium as Mercadona stays market leader in Catalonia

Carrefour has launched a new autonomous supermarket in the Corda Campus of Hasselt, Belgium. The cashier‑less “BuyBye” store operates from 08:00 to 22:00, allowing customers to enter by scanning a QR code or using a bank card, pick items, and have the AI‑based system charge them automatically on exit. It joins six other Belgian locations and one at Paris‑Charles de Gaulle airport, bringing the total to seven BuyBye stores. Carrefour has indicated that Spain, a key market, could see similar stores in the near future.

In Spain, Mercadona continues to dominate supermarket floor space in Catalonia, covering about 15% of the region’s total retail area with more than 230 stores and 360,000 sqm. Competitors Consum and Bon Preu are narrowing the gap but remain behind. Mercadona is investing €3.7 billion to roll out a new store format across Spain and Portugal, targeting 59 new stores this year and full adoption by 2033. The retailer reported a 25% rise in net profit to €1.729 billion, underscoring its strong financial position.