Two supermarkets are disappearing this July 1: the French will have to adapt

Two supermarkets are disappearing this July 1 the French will

Before long, the acquisition of these two famous brands will take place. Regulars will notice some changes.

When the time comes to fill your fridge and do your shopping, the French have their habits. Many remain loyal to physical stores and are increasingly turning to the cheapest supermarket to stay within their budget. Over time, some even have their favorite store, the one they always go to. However, the various crises have disrupted all this… Indeed, between competition, the development of drives, the surge in inflation and new consumer habits, the mass distribution sector is today going through great difficulties . So much so that certain hypermarkets and supermarkets, present for years in France, have to change ownership.

This is the case for two brands well known to consumers in the North and the Grand Est. On July 12, 2023, the Carrefour group announced the acquisition of the Cora and Match stores from the Belgian group Louis Delhaize, for an amount estimated at 1.05 billion euros. A surprise acquisition, which sparked a lot of reactions and which above all has repercussions for the sector. The first is notable: with this purchase, Carrefour will be able to strengthen “its leadership in the food distribution market in France”, according to the group’s press release. As a result, it would appear that this also marks the end of the Cora and Match brands nationwide.

More than a year after the announcement of the acquisition, the Competition Authority took temporary measures pending the end of its investigation. She “has decided to grant Carrefour a waiver to complete the acquisition of the Cora, Match and Provera brands (the purchasing center of the two distributors) on July 1, 2024, without waiting for the end of its competitive analysis”, the group told AFP. The merger will therefore be effective on July 1.

But then, what will become of the Cora and Match stores? On paper, as of July 1, 2024, Carrefour will own 60 hypermarkets and 115 additional supermarkets, which were until now owned by the Louis Delhaize group. However, no official announcement has yet been made regarding possible brand changes, including how the stores will be transformed, nor the future of loyalty cards and customer benefits from Cora and Match. However, some specialists are already suggesting that Cora stores could be renamed under the Carrefour banner.

jdf3