The Fnac-Darty group is closing a series of store closures at the start of 2025. If the Fnac on the Champs-Élysées left its mark with its definitive closure, several Darty brands are also suffering the same fate in different regions. These closures are accompanied by stock liquidations and employee relocations.
After the closure of the Fnac des Champs-Élysées, the Darty group also suffered several permanent closures of its stores. Among the brands concerned, that of Vitré, in Ille-et-Vilaine, recently closed its doors after only four years of activity. Located in the La Baratière commercial area, this store had nevertheless achieved a promising establishment. Despite this, the franchisee welcomed its last customers at the end of 2024, marking the end of a short but intense adventure.
Another notable closure concerns the Darty de Méaulte, which followed the same path shortly after the disappearance of a Sergent Major sign. In these two cases, the franchisees carried out stock sales, displaying reductions of up to 70% to liquidate their products before the final closure.
Consequences for Darty customers and employees
These closures are not without impact on loyal customers of Darty stores, but also on employees who must now adapt to a new professional situation. In Méaulte, the store took over the premises of Euronics after the latter’s liquidation, and it had been established in the region for almost nine years.
Faced with these closures, the Fnac-Darty group is trying to limit the damage by offering relocations to the employees concerned. In Paris, particularly after the closure of the Fnac on the Champs-Élysées, employees received offers of equivalent positions in other Parisian stores such as Saint-Lazare, Ternes, or even Montparnasse.
A rationalization strategy for the Fnac-Darty group
These successive closures appear to be part of a cost rationalization strategy implemented by the Fnac-Darty group. Since the purchase of Darty by Fnac in 2015, for 720 million euros, the two brands have coexisted without completely merging. However, the group now seems to want to reduce its physical points of sale, particularly those deemed unprofitable or located in areas with little traffic.
Closures are often accompanied by significant stock liquidations, in order to maximize the last profits before the stores close permanently. This approach was observed both at the Fnac des Champs-Élysées and at the Darty de Vitré, with reductions of up to 70%.
An uncertain future for the Fnac-Darty network
If the Fnac-Darty group remains a major player in distribution in France, these repeated closures raise concerns about the long-term viability of the network. While the group tries to adapt to new consumption habits, particularly with the development of online commerce, physical stores seem to be suffering.
Successive closures could further weaken the relationship of trust with customers, particularly in rural areas where Darty stores play an important role in terms of proximity and after-sales service. Going forward, the group will need to find a balance between its digital presence and its physical network to remain competitive in an ever-changing market.
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