Leroy Merlin intends to sell all of its stores in Russia

Will the Mulliez family withdraw from Russia? Adeo, the parent company Leroy Merlin, a giant in the sale of DIY equipment and one of the main foreign employers in Russia, announced on Friday March 24 that it wanted to sell all of its stores in this country to a local management, more than a year after the start of the conflict in Ukraine.

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This operation “must make it possible to preserve the jobs of the 45,000 employees and to sustain the activity of the company”argues in a press release the French group, owned by the Mulliez family. The operation will be subject to the approval of the competent authorities in Russia, he said, referring to “work started several months ago in compliance with applicable regulations”.

Russia, the second market after France

The Leroy Merlin company has been in Russia for eighteen years. Adeo explained last year that it maintained its activity in Russia but that it suspended any new investment. Leroy Merlin’s 113 stores there represent between 18 and 20% of the company’s total turnover, its second largest market after France, she told AFP.

Several of the brands owned by the Mulliez family remain established in this country, despite the invasion of Ukraine decided by Vladimir Putin. Among them, Auchan, for its part, achieves more than 10% of its sales in Russia, for 230 stores, according to figures from mid-2022.