Closure of Auchan Nord in Clermont-Ferrand: “Very bad news”, deplores Mayor Olivier Bianchi

The threat had been looming for years already, due to recurring economic difficulties: Auchan announced this Tuesday morning the closure of its Clermont-Ferrand hypermarket, located in the northern districts, unless a buyer is found within the next six months.

If the announcement had the effect of a hammer blow for the store's 194 employees, it also shook an entire neighborhood and even an entire city. “This is bad news for all employees, but also for the entire neighborhood, for Clermont-Ferrand and for the commercial development of the north of the city,” deplores mayor Olivier Bianchi (PS).

The Auchan group announces the closure of two hypermarkets in Auvergne

The elected official makes no secret of it: “Auchan Nord has been on a red line for around ten years, there is a complicated social and commercial reality, with a very low average basket. We tried to participate in its relaunch by offering entertainment But there is also an ultra-competitive local context with the openings of Lidl in Gerzat and Cébazat in recent years.

A hypermarket in distress

According to our information, the hypermarket has posted more than two million losses for two years. The shopping mall was also in great pain, between empty premises and insecurity problems.

Scooter rodeos in a Clermont-Ferrand shopping mall infuriate customers and traders

The observation remains, if the hypermarket does not find a buyer: “Thousands of Clermontois will find themselves with much fewer businesses, while at the same time, we have a very high commercial density in the south of the city” , comments Olivier Bianchi.

A new project is opening in terms of land development, not to mention the future of what could become, in six months, a major commercial wasteland. “Yes, it will be a very strong subject for us in the coming months,” breathes the mayor and president of Clermont Auvergne Métropole.

Arthur Cesbron