Carrefour Taps Blackhawk Network for Branded Gift Cards

Branded payments provider Blackhawk Network on Tuesday (Jan. 11) partnered with grocery retailer Carrefour Group to manage its branded third-party gift card program in France, Belgium, Poland, Italy, Spain, Romania, Argentina and Brazil that expands the distribution across the globe.  

Carrefour will now offer gift cards from international and local brands, including retail companies and gaming and entertainment platforms. 

This expanded collaboration with Blackhawk Network “will enable Carrefour Group to provide global efficiency and growth from a unified approach,” according to the joint announcement. As part of the partnership, Carrefour will increase its current cooperation with leading brands. 

“Having worked with Blackhawk Network for over 11 years, we are thrilled to be extending our partnership with the leader in gift card distribution,” said Laurent Baert, global director, Carrefour Media / CRM & Branded Gift Cards, in the joint announcement. 

“The best-in-class service from Blackhawk Network will allow us to have a unified physical and digital, gift card program across our regions,” he said. “Not only does this enable us to focus on growth, but we will also become a pioneer in innovation and design trends with our brands partners. This collaboration is a step forward in our ambition to constantly address our customer needs with the best services.” 

Blackhawk Network will be delivering the branded gift card program for Carrefour as a fully managed service across France, Belgium, Poland, Italy, Spain, Romania, Argentina and Brazil, including supply chain management, operations and customer service.  

“This is a significant expansion of one of our core partnerships for Blackhawk Network, and we’re excited to be working with Carrefour to build on a sensational gift card program fit for the future,” said Brett Narlinger, head of global commerce at Blackhawk Network, said. 

“There is no doubt the demand for gift cards is growing. In fact, our latest research revealed that one in four shoppers purchased a physical or digital gift card for themselves in the last year,” he said. “With our fully managed service, the aim is to drive global revenue, deliver best in class solutions and enhance the retail experience for Carrefour’s customers across all of its markets.” 

Related: Blackhawk Network Gift Card Bundles Create Flexible Holiday Gifts 

In November, Blackhawk Network rolled out multi-brand bundles on the CashStar that gives customers “experiential” bundles that includes two complementary cards or add-on gift cards.