| Supermarkets |
The supermarket activity
A business present in 5 countries
The supermarkets business, initiated in 1996 with the acquisition of the Docks de France group (France, Spain) and the Spanish and Portuguese activities of Pão de Açúcar, is present in 5 countries: France, Spain, Italy, Poland and Russia. It brings together over 700 fully-consolidated outlets and also includes 1,600 associated or franchised supermarkets in Italy, France and Spain.
A focus on food, with fresh produce as the speciality
Focused on sales advice and services, stores offer a simple range covering the essential needs of all customers, regardless of their buying power.
Simply Market : a completely new concept
One of the great strengths of our supermarkets is their continual quest for new retailing ideas.
In France, Italy and Spain, the new Simply Market supermarket concept is focused squarely on food. The key strength of the new concept is undoubtedly fresh produce. Most items are offered self-service in welcoming and stylish surroundings. Structured into colour-coded groupings (for fresh produce, beauty and baby products, wines, etc.), the range is a balance between national brands, own-brand (Auchan) products and value-line products. It caters for all budgets, with permanently low prices, special offers (a deeply- discounted product offer every fortnight) and “products to try”, especially as part of seasonal promotions.
Alongside its standard format, the chain also uses its "attraction" format in 20 of its stores, and an ultra-local urban format in around 100 of its outlets.
Key dates
1996 Groupe Auchan acquires Docks de France and the Spanish and Portuguese activities of Pão de Açúcar, and becomes a multi-business group; the start of the supermarket activity in France (Atac chain) and Spain (Sabeco chain).
1997 The business grows in Italy, in partnership with La Rinascente group: Sma and Cityper chain supermarkets.
2001 The Polish stores Billa are acquired; they become part of the Elea chain in 2002.
2004 In Italy, acquisition of the totality of La Rinascente food business.
2005 Russia opens its first Atak supermarket. New discount chains are tested: Simply Market in Italy and France, A-tak in Poland...
2006 Spain also tests the Simply Market chain. Deployment begins in France and Italy.
2008 Simply Market expanded to 363 outlets: 174 in Italy, 105 in France and 75 in Spain. The number of Atak supermarkets has doubled in Russia from 10 to 20.
2009 Completion of Simply Market roll-out: 626 supermarkets (France, Spain, Italy, Poland).