International retailer taps IBM's global experience and skills to support transformation

IBM and Carrefour, the French-based international retail chain, today announced they have signed a five-year, euro 180 million agreement for IBM to take over the transformation, management and maintenance of Carrefour's IT infrastructure and associated applications in France.

This agreement will enable Carrefour to:

• Optimize IT costs in France
• Improve IT security and service quality
• Ensure the success of the company's ongoing strategic business projects
• Rationalize subcontracting

Carrefour France's entire IT infrastructure will be hosted from IBM's first European green datacenter in Montpellier. The retailer will benefit from the latest technologies in terms of security, upgradeability and the reduction of energy expenses. The agreement will help Carrefour to meet the fast pace and changing demands of the retail business, now and in the future.

The contract was signed in June 2009.