French retail group Les Mousquetaires has announced that it acquired a minority stake in organic grocer Les Comptoirs de la Bio.
The new partnership will allow Les Comptoirs de la Bio to accelerate the development of its store network, which currently includes 141 points of sale across France.
Under the deal, Les Mousquetaires members will have the opportunity to open stores under the specialist organic banner.
Organic Growth
As demand for organic produce rises, a number of major retailers in France have been expanding into this market.
In November, Auchan opened its first organic food and health-focused store, Auchanbio, just outside of Lille.
Elsewhere, Franprix launched a new convenience store concept last year, Franprix Noé, which has a focus on gourmet, organic and local produce.
The retailer describes the store as a place for urban customers who want to shop in a responsible manner, and has already opened two outlets in Paris.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Sarah Harford. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
