After the national announcements, a CSE was held this Wednesday at the Pérols supermarket…
Auchan Pérols has seen much better days. At the national level, the brand has just announced the elimination of 2,400 positions. For the hypermarket on the Route de Carnon, out of 333 permanent contracts, eight positions will disappear: six “equipment” salespeople and two manager positions (non-food sales and payroll planning).
For Quentin Leclerc, FO central delegate, permanently seconded but who has his office in Pérols, the meetings come one after the other. Tuesday at the national. This Wednesday in Pérols, during the CSE. “We are offended that our colleagues concerned learned about it yesterday while we were in national CSE, explains the staff representative. A person who had just been informed of it came out livid, it's scandalous that this happened like this. We knew that the results were not good but we are asking for real proposals for reclassification, support in terms of positions, training, in terms of compensation… That's what the negotiations are all about.”
Towards a profitability of €10,000 per square meter?
If today, it is the social aspect which is at the forefront of the news, there are nevertheless numerous concerns on Pérols' side. Particularly with the announcement of the reduction of the commercial surface area by 4,723 m2. “Other stores are less than 25% on average. We are less than 35% of the sales area. The group wants to increase profitability per square meter. In certain brands, it is €15,000 per m2. For us, it will be more like 10,000 €/m2. By reducing the commercial surface area, we lower energy and maintenance bills, etc. and ultimately also reduce staff numbers. And profitability increases.”
4,723 square meters less commercial space by 2026
The reduction in surface area should be effective by 2026, or even the end of 2025. Concerned firstly, non-food products: equipment, household appliances, etc. For the trade unionist, it is a vicious circle, these departments were already not a priority. It only got worse. This drop in commercial space is managed by the real estate structure of the Auchan group, in this case Ceetrus, which also has the mission of restoring the status of a particularly dilapidated shopping mall but with a particular problem since the stores do not belong to it.
Soon in franchises
Finally, and the entire economic model is concerned: the unions had confirmation during these last meetings that the group's intention was to franchise as many stores as possible. “Our stores are integratedunderlines Quentin Leclerc. Directors are employees. By setting up franchises, they would overturn the collective agreement…” So many new sources of concern for employees.
“To get back into the match…”
When asked, the national management only responds to global issues and highlights its desire to improve the customer experience, return to a more attractive price positioning and invent new store models.
“To get back into the game, Auchan must lower its costs and simplify its organization.” She specifies: “Structurally too present in large hypermarkets, the brand is undertaking the gradual resizing of around sixty of them. It is a matter, on a case-by-case basis, of defining the right format, the right formula…”
Note that Auchan stores in Celleneuve, Malbosc, Mas Drevon and Grabels are not affected through these social and real estate aspects.
