After making a joint bid for the hypermarkets and supermarkets of the Casino group, Intermarché and Auchan are now also talking about setting up a purchasing alliance for both food and non-food.
The largest French alliance
In a press release, the numbers three and five in French food retail confirm that they are in discussions to set up a purchasing alliance that aims to focus on the complementarity of both groups. Together they want to conduct negotiations with the major national brands in food but also in non-food. The new purchasing alliance would join Auxo, the existing alliance between Intermarché and Casino, through a joint venture. This would immediately become the largest French purchasing alliance.
Both retailers also made a joint bid last week for the hypermarkets and supermarkets of the ailing Casino group. They are reportedly offering one billion euros for the stores, hoping to outpace their rival Lidl. The discount chain would also consider a bid, possibly even together with the French number one E.Leclerc (who would then take over the hypermarkets in which the discounter is not interested). But even if the Casino takeover were not successful, Intermarché and Auchan will continue with their joint purchasing plans, they emphasise.
