PARIS (Reuters) - French antitrust authority said on Thursday it had approved the acquisition by Carrefour of the French business of Belgian retailer Louis Delhaize on the condition that eight stores would be sold to competitors.

Carrefour said in a separate statement it would start talks with potential buyers with the goal to sell the eight stores -- five hypermarkets and three supermarkets with total sales slightly above 300 million euros, by end 2025.

The deal clinched with Louis Delhaize gives Carrefour control over the Cora and Match stores in France as well as the Provera purchasing unit, Carrefour added, confirming a goal to generate synergies of 130 million euros by 2027 from the acquisition.