French supermarket operator Leclerc could be set to launch a new food delivery service in Paris, according to Reuters.
Speaking to RMC radio and BFM TV this week, the retailer's chief executive Michel-Edouard Leclerc said that it would be launching a home delivery platform "before the end of this spring".
“We, the former provincial grocers...We will take on the Amazon challenge in the most expensive French city,” he added.
Online retail giant Amazon launched its Prime Now delivery service in France's capital in June 2016, offering one-hour delivery to its subscribers.
Tech Partnerships
In October, it was reported that Leclerc had been approached by Amazon over a potential logistics partnership.
“Yes, we have been approached by Amazon,” Michel-Edouard Leclerc told Reuters. “Amazon could - why not? - be our logistics partner.”
However, there has been no further comment on this matter from Leclerc or Amazon.
Elsewhere, it was reported this week that Groupe Casino's Monoprix could be in talks with Amazon over a partnership that will see Prime Now services offered to its customers in Paris.
Meanwhile, Carrefour is also looking to expand its food e-commerce presence. In the group's transformation strategy, which was launched last week, it revealed plans to expand its Livraison Express platform, and roll out its one-hour delivery service.
Leclerc is currently the top food retailer in France, according to the latest market share data from Kantar Worldpanel.
The grocery chain achieved 21% market share in the pre-Christmas period, placing it ahead of Carrefour (20.5%), Intermarché (14.4%), Groupe Casino (11.4%) and Auchan (10.6%).
© 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.
