Drives help Leclerc close gap on Carrefour

Drives
worth 38% of sales growth

The strong
rise of sales of the drives is mainly a result of the expansion of the network
of drives: in the first six months of 2013 81 new drives were opened up. At the
moment the company opens a new one about once a week. By the end of the year
the number will have probably risen past 400, a target that was to be hit by
2015. Leclerc is clearly ahead of schedule.

4.5% of
total company sales of Leclerc comes from drives now, but more importantly,
they are responsible for 38% of sales growth. Because of this considerable
growth, Leclerc is able to increase its market share: about 19% now, 0.8%
higher than a year ago.

Not yet
overtaken Carrefour

This does
not mean the company has succeeded in completing the goal of CEO Eduoard
Leclerc: becoming market leader on the French market. According to Kantar World
Panel, current number one, Carrefour, was at a market share of 20.4% at the end
of June.

In the
period between 22 April and 19 May the CEO shortly got what he wanted. Then
Leclerc had a share of 19.9% on the French market, slightly better than
Carrefour at 19.6%. Afterwards things went back to the way they were before.

It is to be
expected the price war between the two chains will continue in the coming
months. Leclerc is adamant on being the cheapest chain.