Colruyt Group sells 81 French supermarkets to Intermarché

Colruyt Group sells 81 French supermarkets and 44 Dats 24 petrol stations to Groupement Mousquetaires, the group behind supermarket chain Intermarché. Talks are still ongoing for the remaining supermarkets.

215 million euros

Intermarché will take over more than 1,300 employees in addition to the 81 Colruyt Prix Qualité stores and 44 DATS 24 petrol stations. In addition, Groupement Mousquetaires has committed to opening 175 vacancies for warehouse employees who will not be transferred automatically. The sale will bring Colruyt Group 215 million euros in cash.

The head office in Rochefort-sur-Nenon, the remaining 23 Colruyt Prix Qualité shops, one DATS 24 petrol station and the warehouses in Dole Choisey, Rochefort-surNenon and Gondreville-Fontenoy are not included in Groupement Mousquetaires’ binding offer as they are not compatible with their current network.

Further talks

Colruyt Group does say it received several offers from other interested parties for about 15 shops. The retailer is continuing talks with these parties to secure employment and to turn these offers into binding agreements as soon as possible, the press release said.

” The past few months have been especially challenging for our French colleagues and we fully understand this news will be difficult,” said Stefan Goethaert, CEO of Colruyt Group. “Although this is a hard announcement, we believe this is the most responsible solution: for the teams, for the customers and for the continuity of the business. We are convinced that the operations in scope of Groupement Mousquetaires’ offer would be able to further grow sustainably with the support of Groupement Mousquetaires as leading French retailer.”