ey character textiles in 2003.

The two-year worldwide (excluding franchise stores) agreement with Marvel will see Carrefour sell some 50 textile products, including apparel, backpacks and school supplies.

In a statement Carrefour said that the agreement “covers some of the most sought-after licenses in Europe and the world. It also gives the Carrefour Group the opportunity to sell licensed products while still maintaining control over the production chain.”

The first products will hit the French market in November 2008 to coincide with the DVD release of Iron Man. The international roll-out of the line is slated for spring 2009.

Carrefour aims to become a key international player in apparel and textile retailing, and the 2003 Disney licensing deal was followed in 2006 with the launch of the home textiles and men’s ready-to-wear line Tex Création de M. Olivier Lapidus, and by the Tex by Max Azria line in 2007.

Carrefour is the world’s second largest retailer with some 15,000 stores in 30 countries.