The Diet Discount group will appear before the commercial court on Monday June 17 for possible liquidation. Put into recovery a year ago, the brand had to close its largest store in October 2023. Two stores are still in operation, to support the business, a prize fund has been launched. (Re)see the report by Delphine Bez and Jean-Marc Kennenga.
The adventure began in 1997. But the curtain could fall in a few days. In the Rivière-Salée store, local producers come to show their support for the organic pioneer in Martinique.
With 13 million euros in turnover, a purchasing center, 7 stores on the two islands, the Diet Discount brand is an important outlet for organic market gardeners and small local producers.
For me it’s very important because Diet Discount is a compatriot, he’s a Martinican, like me, and he’s making headway with his store.
Gilbert Larose, Producer in Trois-Îlets
As soon as we started making our drinks, it was the first store that said yes unconditionally. They tasted it, they liked it and the employees immediately encouraged us. They gave us areas for improvement. So, we are very supportive of them.
Jessy Lessort, co-manager of the Potager des Mornes
Today the last two stores no longer have sufficient funds to fill their shelves.
The problems started in 2018. We had four difficulties here in Jambette. Difficulty of access, the flagship took on water, then there was the fire problem. We asked the CTM to flash the fire, they only did it after a year, there is the problem of the prohibited direction on the other side of the zone. So, we lasted five years at the Jambette store. It was difficult to imagine the closure of the mother’s store, when the closure took place in October 2023 through liquidation. So, it weakened the whole group.
Olivier Moses, creator of the Diet Discount group
Then come Covid and competition. The major brands have around fifteen sites. Olivier Moses would like to defend his model of independent stores. But to launch the activity, the brand needs €75,000. An online prize pool has been opened.
It is an appeal to the people to say that there is a store model, where there are suppliers who are referenced, who do not necessarily have the possibility of going to other distribution channels because they don’t have the volumes. These are suppliers who defend health values, who need visibility, so they need this type of store to exist.
Around thirty small producers and five employees are hoping for a citizen outburst that can convince the court to extend the adventure on Monday morning.
