the underside of the success of the Grand Frais brand

Shiny fruits and vegetables, aligned to perfection, a little more expensive than average: this is the hallmark of Grand Frais supermarkets, with 310 stores in France. What secrets are hidden behind these large halls? In a Grand Frais store on the outskirts of Lyon (Rhône), on the stalls, we find products from France, but also from much further afield. Management assumes: provenance matters less than quality and visual appearance.

Some products more expensive than the competition

On the price side, the France Télévisions teams compared ten identical products at Grand Frais and in the nearest supermarket, a Carrefour store. Out of seven products (vegetables, meat, cheese or eggs), Grand Frais is more expensive. Prices justified, according to the brand, by superior quality and very demanding specifications with producers.

Behind-the-scenes requirements experienced as pressure by certain employees. On online forums, many criticize their pace of work. Accusations of an exhausting pace that management disputes. But it is impossible for the 10,000 employees to negotiate their working conditions together. At issue: the brand’s model, since each store is divided into five small independent companies.

Among Our sources:

At Grand Frais, a damaged social model, HumanityJune 2023
Grand Frais supermarkets lose a lawsuit against their employees, The crossJanuary 2023
Record margins, hotels, companies in Luxembourg: the recipe of the founders of Grand Frais, ChallengesJuly 2023

In-store price statements
Carlos Pichel, innovation director of Grand Frais / Prosol
Sud Solidaires and CGT unions
Testimonials from employees on condition of anonymity