LONDON, July 24 (Reuters) - Carrefour CARR.PA, Europe's biggest food retailer, is in exclusive talks to sell its loss-making business in Italy to NewPrinces Group, it said on Thursday, as part of a strategic review kicked off earlier this year.

The sale of Carrefour Italy, which operates 1,188 stores but made a 67 million euro ($78.85 million) operating loss last year, is subject to regulatory approval and consultation with unions, but could be finalised by the end of 2025, Carrefour said.

Separately, Carrefour reported stronger second-quarter sales as price cuts helped to attract more inflation-weary shoppers particularly in France, its biggest market.

Overall, Carrefour's second-quarter sales grew 4.4% on a like-for-like basis from a year earlier, building on 2.9% growth in the first quarter. In France, like-for-like sales returned to growth for the first time since 2023, up 2.1% compared to a year ago.

"Carrefour's business saw a clear acceleration in the first half of 2025, driven by the momentum in its three core countries: France, Spain, and Brazil," Carrefour CEO Alexandre Bompard said in a statement.

Carrefour's first-half sales totalled 46.559 billion euros, up from 44.863 billion euros a year earlier.

($1 = 0.8498 euros)

(Reporting by Helen Reid; Editing by Susan Fenton)

((Helen.Reid@thomsonreuters.com; +44 7584 155 200 ;))