Casino announces the sale of 288 stores to Auchan and Intermarché

These stores and the service stations attached to them are valued at nearly 1.35 billion euros, according to Casino.

The Casino group announces the sale of 288 stores to Auchan and Intermarché on Wednesday January 24. This represents “almost the entire scope of hypermarkets and supermarkets”, indicates Casino in a press release. These stores and the service stations attached to them are valued at nearly 1.35 billion euros, according to Casino.

“Les Mousquetaires (Intermarché) would eventually integrate 190 stores (with an option of substitution by a possible competitor for 26 of them) and Auchan 98”, indicate the two groups in a joint press release. These sales will take place in the second quarter of 2024, according to the Casino group. They will take place in three successive waves: on April 30, 2024, on May 31, 2024 and on July 1, 2024. The transaction must be finalized in the coming months after having been approved by the Competition Authority.

The buyers contribute “to preserving more than 12,000 jobs”

The Les Mousquetaires Group and Auchan are committed to “resume all employment contracts of employees assigned to transferred stores and service stations” and to “maintain, with regard to employees assigned to stores, the provisions and benefits resulting from the Casino collective status for a period of 15 months from the date of completion of the transfer”, it is indicated in the Casino press release. The two buyers specify in their press release that they “thus contribute to preserving more than 12,000 jobs in stores”.

Auchan and Intermarché affirm that the activity of four logistics warehouses is “already maintained”. Auchan takes over the Aix-en-Provence site, Intermarché those of Salon-de-Provence (frozen), Corbas (frozen) and Montélimar (fresh). The Musketeers also study “the resumption of an additional base in the Grand Est”.

“Les Mousquetaires and Auchan are bringing to fruition a project with 100% French capital, which offers new perspectives, maintains employment and strengthens French food sovereignty”, welcome the two buyers in their press release. They also mention “a purchasing alliance project between Intermarché, Auchan and Casino creating the first 100% French purchasing center“.