Carrefour, the France-based retailer, will spend more than Rmb100m on buying fruit and vegetables in Chongqing next year, according to Eric Legros, chief executive of the company’s China operation. This is up from Rmb40m currently, which accounts for 30 per cent of all the fresh produce sold in Carrefour’s supermarkets in Chongqing.

Carrefour will set up a local purchase team in Chongqing. In addition to sourcing more products from the municipality, the staff will offer training to local farmers in agricultural technology, fertiliser usage and food security.

Carrefour currently has four supermarkets in Chongqing and a fifth is due to open in Yuanjiagang this month. In 2010, there will be a new Carrefour store in the Nanping area.