“Carrefour offers best guarantees”
Coop d’Alsace was looking for a solution for these specific stores, as it
was experiences too much competition
from French and German chain stores, leading to its severe financial
problems. At first, it was thought that competitor Casino, already supplying the chain, would pry away the
Coop d’Alsace stores, but the discussions eventually led
to nothing.
According to the board of directors at Coop d’Alsace, Carrefour is offering the best guarantees to assure employment, the
retention of stores and the valorization of local products. Carrefour is
willing to acquire more than 90 % of the 144 stores, employ more than 90
% of the 440 workers and create a solution for the stores that risk
closure.
Carrefour under-represented in the East
The possible buyout is an opportunity for Carrefour to boost its meagre
presence in the East of France. That is why Carrefour would like to rename the stores in the urban centres into
Carrefour Market, Carrefour City or Carrefour Express. Rural stores will,
at first, keep their current brand name.
Coop d’Alsace had previously sold its 22 supermarkets and 6 hypermarkets to
E.Leclerc. When it sells its convenience stores, Coop d’Alsace is left with 4 cafeterias, a logistics centre and an
industrial butchery. The latter will continue to supply the convenience
stores and possibly other Carrefour stores in the East of France.
(translated by Gary Peeters)
