Faced with an unprecedented financial crisis, Auchan is beginning a major restructuring of its hypermarkets in France. As part of its “Cap 8000” plan, the brand has revealed that 19 of its stores will see their retail space reduced from 2025, marking a new stage in the transformation of its economic model.
The distributor Auchan is going through a difficult period marked by radical decisions. As part of a large-scale social plan announced on November 5, 2024, the channel confirmed the closure of three hypermarkets and three warehouses, accompanied by the elimination of 2,389 positions.
But another part of the plan, called “Cap 8000”plans to reduce the commercial surface area of 60 of its 119 hypermarkets over the next four years. From 2025, 19 stores are already affected by this measure.
A reduction in surface area to rationalize costs
Faced with declining financial performance, Auchan is relying on a rationalization strategy. The objective is to limit the surface area of stores to 8,000 square meters maximummainly removing non-food sections. This orientation responds to the change in consumption habits: the rise of online commerce and the decline in attendance at supermarkets. The first hypermarkets affected by this restructuring are located in several French regions.
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These are the stores in Arras (Pas-de-Calais), Bordeaux-Lac (Gironde), Boulogne (Pas-de-Calais), Cambrai (Nord), Châteauroux (Indre), Domérat ( Allier), Illkirch (Bas-Rhin), Laxou (Meurthe-et-Moselle), Pontet (Vaucluse), Marne-La-Vallée (Seine-et-Marne), Mont Saint-Martin (Meurthe-et-Moselle), Olivet (Loiret), Petite-Forêt (North), Semecourt (Moselle), Saint-Jean de la Ruelle ( Loiret) and Saint-Priest (Rhône), Saint-Quentin (Aisne), Villars (Loire) and Viry Noureuil (Aisne). These 19 stores will see their surface area reduced by 25% on average from 2025, as revealed The independent.
Job cuts in the stores concerned
This reduction in surface area is accompanied by job cuts. For example, in the store Porte d'Espagne in Perpignan14 jobs will disappear. The situation at Auchan echoes other movements in companies controlled by theMulliez Family Association (AFM)which also owns Decathlon, Leroy Merlin, Kiabi and Norauto. While Auchan announces massive layoffs, Decathlon has decided to pay a billion euros in dividends to its shareholders, causing an outcry among unions. The CFDT Decathlon called for a strike on December 7, denouncing financial priorities perceived as inconsistent: “No money for senior negotiations or NAOs (mandatory annual negotiations), but a billion for family shareholders,” criticized the union.
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Auchan's difficulties raise questions about the hypermarket model, long considered a pillar of French distribution. In a context where brands must deal with competition from e-commerce, high costs and consumers more sensitive to environmental issues, the strategy of reducing surface areas could represent a solution, but at the cost of a considerable human and social impact. . Finally, the CFDT is calling for a parliamentary commission of inquiry to examine the use of public money by AFM brands.
Passionate about women's news, Agathe has been deciphering the latest trends for aufeminin since 2022. Her favorite areas? Psychology, nutrition and well-being advice, without forgetting the tips…
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