The possibility of Leader Price being subject to an international expansion has strengthened significantly after Groupe Casino purchased the 50 per cent of Geimex controlled by the Baud family.
Geimex, which controls the French discount supermarket chain’s international (or non-French) division, has up to now been operated conjunctively by Casino and the Bauds.
Groupe Casino has had a somewhat acrimonious relationship with the family since it effected a buy-over of Leader Price in 2007.
In a press release, Groupe Casino said that the transaction “will allow the group to develop actively the Leader Price brand on an international scale.”
No details of plans to enlarge Leader Price’s overseas presence have been divulged. The move is subject to approval by l'Autorité de la Concurrence.
Geimex’s 2015 turnover was €200 million.
© 2016 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Peter Donnelly. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
