SAO PAULO, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Brazilian retailer Grupo Pao de Acucar (PCAR5.SA: Quote, Profile, Research)(CBD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday third-quarter net income rose to 171 million reais ($99 million) from 66.6 million reais a year earlier.

The company, jointly controlled by French retailer Casino (CASP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) and the Diniz family of Brazil, owns the largest supermarket chain in the South American country. Its main rivals in Brazil are multinational retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Carrefour (CARR.PA: Quote, Profile, Research).

($1=1.722 reais) (Reporting by Guillermo Parra-Bernal; Editing by Derek Caney)