The group is studying a merger of its distribution activities in France with Teract, the subsidiary of InVivo which is also developing the Grand Marché Frais brand here.
Reconfiguration in sight in French mass distribution. Following a dispatch from Bloomberg evoking an alliance project, the Casino and Teract groups confirmed this Wednesday evening “having engaged in exploratory discussions which could lead to the merger of the distribution activities of the two groups in France within the same entity controlled by Casino”.
If the press release states that “These discussions are preliminary and may not succeed”, he evokes a scheme that could modify the profile of the Casino group. Last June, the Saint-Etienne distributor simplified its legal organization, combining its distribution activities in France (with the Monoprix, Franprix, Casino, Géant and Naturalia brands) within a single entity, CGP Distribution France. What to make easier a sale or an opening of the capital.
Read alsoThe Casino group brings together its activities in France in a common holding company, CGP Distribution France
In the officially contemplated transaction, CGP Distribution France would merge with the distribution activities of Teract. A company recently created by the merger between the InVivo cooperative and Spac 2MX, created by Xavier Niel, Matthieu Pigasse and Moez-Alexandre Zouari, Teract brings together the gardening brands Jardiland, Gamm Vert, Delbard and Noa. But his ambition is above all to develop the agri-food brand Grand Marché Frais d’ici, created by Moez-Alexandre Zouari. This distributor, also one of the main Parisian franchisees of Monoprix and Franprix and controlling shareholder of Picard, wants to make its new brand a rival of Grand Frais.
A new entity for the supply of local products?
If the distribution group resulting from the marriage would be controlled by Casino, the shareholders of Teract (InVivo up to 69%, the Zouari family up to 12% and 3% for Xavier Niel and Matthieu Pigasse) would hold a significant share. In the merger project under consideration, Casino and Teract are also working “to the establishment of a newly created entity controlled by the shareholders of Teract, in charge in particular of the supply of agricultural, local and short circuit products.” Contacted by Le Figarospokespersons for Casino and Teract declined to comment further on the two groups’ ambitions.
HAVE ALSO – The Kookaï brand announces its placement in receivership