French shoe chain André is closing its doors for good after 130 years

After 130 years, the well-known French shoe store chain André is disappearing from the scene, following a long series of restructurings and acquisitions. Of a network that once numbered 500 stores, only a handful remained recently.

Persistent financial problems

On September 9, the Paris Commercial Court ordered the judicial liquidation of the company, which still employed 30 people. This brings to an end a long series of takeovers, restructurings, and downsizing. André was founded in 1896 in Nancy and grew into a trusted name on French shopping streets, but has taken significant hits in recent years. First, the COVID-19 pandemic forced stores to close; then, the war in Ukraine drove up raw material prices, while competition from fast fashion—led by Shein—and secondhand platforms—spearheaded by Vinted—also intensified.