Significant job creation should result from over a dozen new stores to be opened across India over the next year after French company Auchan signed a franchise agreement with local firm Max Hypermarket India.

Max Hypermarket’s existing 13 stores, which average 50,000 sq ft in size, are due to be rebranded as Auchan, and a news release from the French company says the two plan to open 12-15 new stores in the coming year.

The Auchan Group operates in 12 countries and employs 269,000 people across retail, retail real estate, banking and e-commerce, and had 2011 revenues of €44.4bn (£35.4bn). The hypermarkets segment has 235,000 workers and 616 outlets, at a ratio of 381 staff per store.

Says Philippe Baroukh, general manager, Hypermarkets at Auchan: “We consider this new franchise partnership in India as a great opportunity for Auchan to enhance its brand on a very high potential market, characterised by a dynamism and a strong economic growth.”