More than 2,000 jobs may be at risk at Auchan in France

The chain has been experiencing financial difficulties for years. Auchan management does not want to comment, but employee representatives are expected at the headquarters in Lille on Tuesday morning for an “update on the situation and the company’s plans”.

According to a source close to the file, 2,300 jobs are threatened across the various departments, in support functions, in head offices but also in stores.

The unions are awaiting Tuesday’s meeting, but are shocked by the figure mentioned.

Russia

French retail expert Olivier Dauvers had pointed out on Sunday that the difficulties Auchan is experiencing in France have been “covered for years by its international activities”. But since Russia invaded Ukraine at the beginning of 2022, the profitable branch in Russia no longer plays that role. In recent days, the press has hinted at a sale of the Russian branch, which employs 30,000 people.

Auchan is the fifth largest on the French market, but with a market share of 9 percent, it is far behind the four largest (E.Leclerc, Carrefour, Intermarché and Coopérative U).

In September 2020, almost 1,500 jobs disappeared at Auchan in France, following a plan at the beginning of 2020 in which 500 people left voluntarily.

Together with Decathlon, among others, Auchan is part of the Mulliez family’s retail empire. The family holding company above all those brands and companies has a turnover of 100 billion euros and employs 650,000 people worldwide.