Pharmazon against Google: the Orléans Court of Appeal rules against the small parapharmacy company which risks its survival

Hard blow for Pharmazon. This Orléans company which accuses Google of undermining its general public online pharmacy sales activity has lost its second legal battle against the internet giant, as revealed by a ruling from the Court of Appeal of Orléans (Loiret) made public this Thursday, December 11, 2025. At first instance, before the commercial court, the company which employs 22 people won in November 2024. Google then contested the decision and both parties found themselves before the judges on September 25.

The dispute concerns the method of delivery of packages ordered online, which Pharmazon customers can collect free of charge in pharmacies from the first euro of order, in one of the 1,000 member pharmacies. For the Orléans company, this helps bring customers to the store and contributes to the defense of local commerce by paying for it via e-commerce.

For its part, Google considers that these terms are not compatible with the rules of its online sales platform, Google Shopping, and has reported this to Pharmazon with the threat of closing its account, which generates around 50% of traffic to its site.

“We are fighting for another model and we are not followed”

After negotiation, Audrey Lecoq, the director and founder of the company, believes she has reached an agreement in 2024 with the American giant authorizing it to maintain its practices subject to some software adaptations and had won her case on this point in summary proceedings. In its judgment, the Orléans Court of Appeal overturns this decision, considering that the email exchanges between Pharmazon and Google do not constitute proof of an agreement.

“I have a feeling of incomprehension. E-commerce is killing city centers. We are fighting for another model and we are not followed,” laments Audrey Lecoq, the director of Pharmazon, who is not going to give up. She will in fact continue to fight on the legal ground with a new request, on the merits. A procedure that could last several years.

In the meantime, she hopes that Google “won’t push the button” that would close her account, and that she won’t have to lay people off. Online sales to the general public employ 12 of Pharmazon’s 21 employees. It represents around 10% of the 27 million euros turnover of the company, whose main activity is the wholesale sale of parapharmacy products to professionals.