Monoprix, the French retail chain owned by the Casino Group, is undergoing a further restructuring, involving the sale of three stores to Lidl and the closure of six others. Approximately 200 employees are affected by these changes, which were presented to staff representatives on Tuesday, .
The three stores being sold to the German discounter Lidl are located in the Île-de-France region, specifically in Chatou, Argenteuil, and Le Pecq. Lidl has confirmed it is in “exclusive discussions” with Casino and anticipates finalizing the transaction by the end of the first half of the year. This move signals Lidl’s continued expansion within the French market.
Alongside the sales, Monoprix will close five stores in La Défense, Vitry-sur-Seine, Malakoff, Nantes, and Tours. One Monop’ store in Clichy will be shuttered. Eleven Monop’ locations will transition to a franchise model, and a single store in Lyon will be sold to the Spanish retailer Primaprix. Monoprix stated that affected employees from the closing stores will be “repositioned” within other locations of the brand.
Casino’s Restructuring and Lidl’s Expansion
These changes are part of a broader restructuring effort at Casino, which came under the control of Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky in after years of mounting debt. Kretinsky has publicly committed to maintaining a significant presence in the hypermarket and supermarket sectors. The sale of these stores is intended to streamline operations and reduce the group’s financial burden.
Lidl, currently the sixth-largest distributor in France, is actively seeking to strengthen its market position. The company intends to expand its presence in urban and suburban areas. This acquisition builds on a previous agreement to acquire 19 supermarkets from Auchan in , nine of which were originally sold by Casino. The company has internally dubbed its expansion project “Voltaire,” demonstrating the high level of support it receives from its parent company, Schwarz.
Concerns from Labor Unions
The CGT Monoprix union expressed concerns regarding the impact of these changes on employees. A union representative, speaking anonymously, highlighted anxieties about the potential differences in working conditions between Monoprix and Lidl. While Lidl has pledged to retain 100% of the staff in the acquired stores, the union remains wary of the transition.
Broader Market Context
Lidl’s interest in acquiring a substantial portfolio of Casino and Monoprix stores – initially reported as potentially 600 locations – reflects a broader trend of consolidation within the French retail landscape. The German discounter has reportedly approached the investment fund Attestor, a key ally of the Kretinsky-Ladreit de Lacharrière buying duo, to express its interest in hundreds of stores. A letter from Lidl CEO Kenneth McGrath outlined a list of nearly 600 stores, split roughly equally between the Casino and Monoprix brands, that the company would like to purchase.
The potential acquisition of these stores would allow Lidl to rapidly expand its footprint in France, challenging established players like Carrefour and Intermarché. The company has indicated it possesses the flexibility to acquire Géant hypermarkets as well, and even to take over all of Casino and Monoprix if necessary. This aggressive strategy underscores Lidl’s ambition to become a leading force in the French grocery market.
Intermarché has already agreed to acquire 119 Casino stores, with a phased transfer of ownership occurring throughout and into the following years. This demonstrates the ongoing reshaping of the French retail sector as Casino seeks to divest assets and reduce its debt.
The restructuring at Monoprix and Casino also comes amid a broader trend of franchise expansion. The transfer of eleven Monop’ stores to a franchise model reflects a strategy to reduce capital expenditure and leverage the entrepreneurial spirit of independent operators. This approach is becoming increasingly common in the retail industry as companies seek to optimize their business models and adapt to changing consumer preferences.
