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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2026 · ISSUE No. 218

A2 · ElementaryAdapted from Expansión

Carrefour and the Riots: Talking About Problems and Plans

Carrefour y los disturbios: aprender a hablar de problemas y planes

Oct 21, 20261 min readGraded Spanish · word-by-word audio

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Carrefour es una gran empresa de supermercados de Francia. En los últimos días, hay disturbios en muchas ciudades del país. Por eso, la empresa tiene problemas. El CEO dice: «Es una situación sin precedentes». Las tiendas en las ciudades no pueden abrir bien, y los equipos trabajan en condiciones difíciles. A pesar de los problemas, las ventas del tercer trimestre mejoran.

Pero la empresa cambia sus planes para 2026. Ahora espera un aumento más pequeño del margen operativo: entre 0 y 15 puntos básicos, no más de 25 como antes. También prevé un beneficio por acción estable o con poco crecimiento, y un flujo de caja libre un poco menor. Además, reduce sus inversiones en Francia: 1.600 millones de euros, 100 millones menos.

En Europa, el consumo sigue sólido, pero la inflación sube por los costes de energía. En Latinoamérica, el consumo está bajo presión por los tipos de interés altos. En España, las ventas de alimentación crecen un 1,8% y las de no alimentación un 3,2%. Las tiendas Carrefour Express aumentan sus ventas un 13%. La empresa abre 35 tiendas de este tipo en el país.

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Watch out, English speaker

Spanish uses por + noun to state a cause, while English usually needs a preposition plus a gerund or a clause: "por los disturbios" is "because of the riots," not "for the riots." English speakers often reach for "for" and produce an ungrammatical calque, so remember por here means "because of." Por eso works as a standalone connector meaning "that's why" or "therefore," and it introduces a result, not a reason. English speakers tend to translate it word-for-word as "for that" and then misplace it mid-clause; in Spanish it typically opens the sentence or clause: "Por eso, la empresa tiene problemas." A pesar de + noun means "despite" or "in spite of," and it never takes "of" the way English "despite of" is wrongly said. Learners often confuse it with aunque + verb, so keep a pesar de for nouns and infinitives: "A pesar de los problemas, las ventas mejoran."

Key vocabulary

  • disturbiom.

    riot, disturbance

    “Hay disturbios en muchas ciudades del país.”— There are riots in many cities across the country.

    Pattern disturbios en la calle street riots

    Compare altercado conflict

    Plural: disturbios

    💡 From the verb disturbar (to disrupt); remember that 'disrupting order' is a disturbio.

  • precedentem.

    precedent

    “Es una situación sin precedentes.”— It is an unprecedented situation.

    Pattern sin precedentes unprecedented

    Compare anterior previous

    Plural: precedentes

    💡 pre- (before) + ceder (to go) → something that goes before, i.e. a precedent.

  • ventaf.

    sale, sales

    “Las ventas del tercer trimestre mejoran.”— Third-quarter sales are improving.

    Pattern ventas comparables comparable sales

    Compare comercio commerce

    Plural: ventas

    💡 From the verb vender (to sell); venta is the noun for 'selling'.

  • trimestrem.

    quarter (of a year)

    “Las ventas del tercer trimestre mejoran.”— Third-quarter sales are improving.

    Pattern tercer trimestre third quarter

    Compare cuarto quarter

    Plural: trimestres

    💡 tri- (three) + mestre (month) → three months, i.e. a quarter.

  • margenm.

    margin; edge

    “Espera un aumento más pequeño del margen operativo.”— It expects a smaller rise in the operating margin.

    Pattern margen operativo operating margin

    Compare beneficio profit

    Plural: márgenes

    💡 In a business context it often means 'profit margin', as in margen de beneficio.

  • inversiónf.

    investment

    “Reduce sus inversiones en Francia.”— It is cutting its investments in France.

    Pattern reducir inversiones reduce investments

    Compare capital capital

    Plural: inversiones

    💡 From invertir (to invest); inversión is the noun for 'putting money in'.

  • consumom.

    consumption, spending

    “En Europa, el consumo sigue sólido.”— In Europe, consumer spending remains solid.

    Pattern consumo sólido solid consumption

    Compare gasto spending

    Plural: consumos

    💡 From consumir (to consume); to say 'consumption' in everyday speech, use consumo.

  • inflaciónf.

    inflation

    “La inflación sube por los costes de energía.”— Inflation rises because of energy costs.

    Pattern repunte de la inflación uptick in inflation

    Compare subida de precios rise in prices

    Plural: inflaciones

    💡 From inflar (to inflate); prices 'inflating' is inflación.

Grammar spotlight

Expressing cause: por / por eso / a pesar de

A2

Use por + noun to express a cause. Por eso means 'therefore' and connects a result. A pesar de + noun means 'despite' and introduces a concession.

“Por eso, la empresa tiene problemas. A pesar de los problemas, las ventas mejoran.”— Therefore, the company has problems. Despite the problems, sales are improving.

⚠️ Do not use por que to express cause; use por + noun or porque + clause.

Sentence patterns to steal

  • Es una situación sin precedentes.

    It is an unprecedented situation.

    Es una situación + sin precedentes / difícil / nueva.sin precedentes can be replaced by other adjective phrases, such as muy complicada.
  • A pesar de los problemas, las ventas mejoran.

    Despite the problems, sales are improving.

    A pesar de + noun, + main clause.los problemas can be replaced by la crisis / las dificultades.
  • La empresa reduce sus inversiones en Francia.

    The company reduces its investments in France.

    reducir + noun + en + placeinversiones can be replaced by gastos / costes; Francia can be replaced by otros países.

Carrefour and the French Riots

In autumn 2026, several French cities imposed curfews due to social unrest, affecting store operations for retailers such as Carrefour. Carrefour is a major French multinational retail group with operations worldwide, and Spain is one of its key markets.

Source: Expansión news (October 20, 2026)

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