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serge.velain
Published on
September 28, 2024 at 7:00 a.m.
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This September 30, 2024, Lydie and Philippe Pesson will leave with a certain emotion the keys to the Super U store in Bernay (Eure) Jelissa Salliot and Pierre Harou-Delestrade. The former will enjoy a well-deserved retirement, which they will probably spend in the Rouen region (Seine-Maritime). The latter will take on a challenge, with desire and ambition.
Who are the newcomers?
The newcomers, Jelissa Salliot (30 years old) and Pierre Harou-Delestrade (31 years old), are not unknown in the region. Jelissa is originally from Manche; Pierre grew up in Menneval and did all his schooling in Bernay.
“I went to the Ferdinand Buisson school, the hamlet college and the Fresnel high school », indicates the latter when we ask him to talk about his youth in Bernay. Pierre then studied economics and management (DUT, economic license completed in Germany and master management obtained at the IAE in Rouen). His partner Jelissa studied business (BTS and professional license).
Professionally, Jelissa Salliot was until now traveling salesmanin the catering and sale of dried fruits, “in contact with mass distribution”she specifies.
His companion Pierre Harou-Delestrade worked a lot in Bernay, before leaving for the Channel in 2018.
He worked at Intermarché Bernay and Conches, in Neubourg then at the E. Leclerc center in Menneval. He then joined the Super U brand, where he held two management positions (deputy to the director of the Super U of Brécey then director of the Super U of Jullouville).
In Bernay, Jelissa and Pierre will manage the Super U together, as Lydie and Philippe Pesson did previously. The young couple will be at the head of an equipment of 610 square meterswhich they will expand, and will manage a team of 20 employees.
Regarding this expansion, in 2025 the Super U will occupy the “box” of the barber Monsieur and his workshops, which adjoins Super U, the barber setting up on rue Gaston-Folloppe.
We will take advantage of this opportunity to break down the partition and expand the store by 150 square meters. It’s done. Work will begin in January 2025.
Historically, the “barber’s hut” was, like that of Super U, formerly occupied by Mr Bricolage, until its closure. In 2013 the Pesson couple did not wish to occupy the entirety of the two premises, properties of Anne-Sophie and Charles-Edouard Eberentzduring the opening of their Super U brand.
A little more than ten years later, it will be done, when the store expands.
Pierre and Jelissa intend to manage their store in the continuity of the Pesson couple but by adding their touch, obviously. “We will take advantage of the expansion to develop our fresh produce section”reveal the new leaders. The Pessons place their trust in them in this regard, and from every point of view.
For the Pessons, a page turns
For the Pesson couple, a page is turning.
Lydie and Philippe had been in place for more than 10 years. Since June 25, 2013 precisely, the day they opened their Super U brand in place of a former Mr Bricolage, taking over all the staff of the DIY store.
Sarthois both, Lydie and Philippe have made a career in mass distribution. He, first of all Modern countersat Le Mans, where he entered on June 18, 1982, then at Stock et Champion. Philippe Pesson joined Super U in January 1993, to Caen then to Serqueuxwhere he was store manager. With some success, the store owned by Bénédicte and Stéphane Caron increased from 1,600 to 2,800 square meters and from 23 to 85 employees. It was Bénédicte and Stéphane Caron who encouraged the Pessons to open their own store.
Their arrival in Bernay happened like this.
We had two stores in sight, one in Saint-André de l’Eure, the other in Bernay. Our first visit to Bernay, which we did not know, was decisive. The weather was nice, we had eaten well, under the sun, on the terrace, at La Crêpe d’or. The store was well located, in the city center, with parking. And then there was a high school, where our daughter could go. The choice was quickly made.
A choice they do not regret. “Today Super U is the largest grocery store and the best butcher in Bernay”proudly affirm Lydie and Philippe.
However, they had a complicated start. “We had a hard time,” admits Philippe Pesson. Two external phenomena – the Yellow Vests… and the Covid – encouraged the growth of the store (see below). Another, endogenous, contributed to the success: the arrival of a new butcher, Thierry Lercier, in September 2019.
How the Yellow Vests and the Covid boosted the city center brand
Lydie and Philippe Pesson admit it bluntly: “the beginnings were complicated”. The beginnings and even the continuation, the competition being tough. “In Bernay/Menneval there is a Leclerc, a Lidl, an Intermarché, the little Inter, an Aldi,” says Philippe. For a town of 10,000 inhabitants, that’s quite a density per square meter. “And although in city center, the Super U sign lacks visibility.
Two external events – the Yellow Vests and the Covid – “made it known” more: the Yellow Vests and the Covid.
“During the Yellow Vest movement, demonstrators blocked access to Intermarché and Leclerc,” recalls Philippe Pesson. During this movement launched in November 2018, which remained vigorous nationally until March 2019, some of the Bernay residents (re)came to do their shopping in town.
And then there was Covid and the confinements decided by the Government
“We launched the Drive in December 2019, the first confinement having been decreed in March 2020, we have not been idle,” remember Lydie and Philippe Pesson. “Some ordered Drives worth several hundred euros from us, we secured dozens and dozens of them and always, as we had promised, available no later than two hours after the order. This period contributed a lot to us make known.”
There was then loyalty among some of the customers, but that’s another story…
This is how today Lydie and Philippe Pesson will calmly leave the keys of the store to Pierre Harou-Delestrade and Jelissa Salliot.
“We are not worried”say the Pessons, who do not want to leave without sending “a little word” to their customers.
“We thank our customers for not only trusting us but also supporting us, especially during the covid period, during which some offered us masks, others showed us their support. A bond was created between the customers and us and we will not forget that. »
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