The Russian discount supermarket chain, Mere, is coming to France for the first time. Its first store will be located in the East of France.
Nicknamed the “Russian Lidl”, Mere is a chain of discount supermarkets born in 2009 in Siberia. the first store in France will be located in Thionville, in Moselle. It takes the place and the premises of a former Leader Price, closed for a year, whose area amounts to 1000 square meters.
“The work permit has been deposited at the town hall. We can assume that in a few weeks, the construction site will begin“says Thierry Ghezzi, the city’s trade assistant for the media Lorraine actu. The Russian channel does not want to stop there and plans to set up Mere stores in Sainte-Marguerite in the Vosges as well as in Pont-Sainte -Marie in the Aube For the moment, these projects remain on hold.
Mere supermarkets belong to the giant Russian group Svetofor and are already installed in Belarus and Central Asia. Western Europe therefore appears to be the next market to conquer.
Will the quality of these products be able to satisfy the French men and women?
Problem, however, the appearance of Mere supermarkets leaves something to be desired for some. Products, 20% cheaper than those of Lidl or Aldi, will be presented stored in the boxes. No traditional shelving or staging required. Also, the checkouts will be mostly automatic since few salespeople are employed in this type of firm.
The questions of the farmers’ remuneration, of their presence elsewhere within the Mother products, as well as that of the origin of the products must arise. If prices are going to be slashed, will quality and ethics be there? It will be up to consumers to say so.