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Auchan to Shift Almost All French Supermarkets to Intermarché or Netto Franchises

The plan seeks sharper pricing through a novel franchise structure that keeps the stores within Auchan, pending competition authority approval.

Overview

  • About 294 French supermarkets, excluding Corsica, would switch to Intermarché or Netto banners by late 2026 under franchise agreements, subject to employee consultation and antitrust clearance.
  • Auchan says the stores would be transferred into an autonomous company linked to the group, describing the move as cooperation rather than a sale.
  • Assets and employees would remain with Auchan, which expects to retain roughly €3.3 billion in store revenue, while Intermarché provides merchandise, store concepts, and commercial policy.
  • Management projects a gain of more than six points in price competitiveness for customers, as staff representatives flag potential changes to status and benefits after a transition period.
  • The proposal builds on existing purchasing alliances such as Aura Retail and European groups Epic and Everest, and comes as Intermarché expands through Casino and Colruyt acquisitions.