the essential
This Sunday, the Géant Casino in Decazeville is closing its doors after the acquisition of the Les Mousquetaires group in 2023. On July 23, the building will reopen under the Intermarché brand.
“I come to buy shaving products that I can’t find anywhere else.” While the parking lot is already almost empty, a few regulars are still leaving the Géant Casino in Decazeville, which is closing permanently this Sunday. The group, burdened by debt, was bought by the Les Mousquetaires brand in 2023.
On the employees’ side, the decision has been digested. For fifteen months, from the transfer, they will be able to keep their rights and benefits. So, once the worry has passed, nostalgia prevails. “For the moment, we are a little dejected. The atmosphere is sad. There are hardly any people left in the establishment,” confides one of the employees of the building located on the upper plateau of the former mining town.
“We can’t wait to get back to work”
A question of time. The grand reopening of the store under the Intermarché brand is scheduled for July 23 at 8:30 a.m. “We are going to tidy the shelves, clean them, and restock them. We are already looking forward to getting back to work,” says the same employee.
Until then, all unsold fresh products will be donated to local associations, indicates David Degouille, store director.
If he remains in office despite the change of owner, he will no longer officiate in his capacity as director: “There will be a bridge manager, who will act as official manager without being the owner of the store, to enforce the policy from Intermarché. The current director will handle day-to-day affairs and manage the teams,” underlines the employee.
What opinion will the competition authority give?
One question remains: what opinion will the competition authority give during the summer? Indeed, even if the institution granted an exemption to quickly finalize the sale of the Casino stores even before its opinion is given, it could force Intermarché to sell some of its new stores if it considers that there is a monopoly situation of the brand which leads to “price increases as well as a reduction in the diversity of the offer to the detriment of consumers”.
A possible scenario for the future Intermarché of Decazeville, which is only 10 minutes from the Intermarché of Viviez, Cransac and Flagnac. Adjoining Casino, the DIY brand Bricorama is also part of the Les Mousquetaires group, parent company of Intermarché.
