Monoprix

Monoprix S.A. is a major French retail chain with its headquarters in Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France, near Paris.[1] The company's stores combine food retailing with fashion, beauty and home products.

History

The company was founded in 1932 in Rouen by Max Heilbronn, a son-in-law of Theophile Bader, the founder of Galeries Lafayette.[2]

In 1991, Monoprix acquired the Uniprix brand after Galeries Lafayette took over Nouvelles Galeries, the parent of Uniprix.

In 1997, the chain merged with French retailer Prisunic, in a deal that saw Casino Group acquire a 21% stake in the merged company.[3]

In 2000, Galeries Lafayette, entered into an agreement to sell a 50% interest in Monoprix. Casino Group provided Galeries Lafayette with a put option to sell the remaining 50%. In 2012, after legal wrangling over the value of the put option, the shareholders of both firms agreed on a sale price of $1.6 billion (€1.2 billion).[4] The Autorité de la concurrence, France's competition regulatory body, approved the transaction in 2013, with the condition that the merged group sell 58 stores. This allowed the deal to close, making Monoprix a wholly owned subsidiary of Casino Group.[5]

On 23 May 2019, Rallye S.A., owner of Groupe Casino, declared bankruptcy protection in an effort to maintain its high debt costs. Casino later announced that same day that the bankruptcy would not affect any of their subsidiaries and that operations would continue normally.[6][7]

In 2023, Monoprix's parent Casino announced that they have completed a deal to avoid bankruptcy. This restructuring procedure would allow for the company to cut high debt and improve recent losses to other rival supermarket corporations.[8] In 2024, Casino USA filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy.[9]

Monoprix currently has more than 700 shops in total: most under the Monoprix brand, but also smaller Monop', Monop' Daily, Monop' Station, Monop' Beauty, and Naturalia formats.[10] It has a presence in over 250 towns and cities in France and employs around 21,000 people.

International stores

In 1933, Monoprix expanded to Tunisia, currently 85 stores operate in the country under a management contract.[11][12]

Monoprix acquired Prisunic's stores in Mauritius in 1975, Monoprix exited Mauritius in 2019.[13] The company plans to return to Mauritius with a store in Rivière Noire sometime in 2025.[14]

The company entered Lebanon in 1999, all stores were closed in 2019. In early 2024 it was announced that Monoprix would return to Lebanon in 2024,[15] it is currently uncertain if the store will open due to the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon.

Monoprix opened in Andorra in 2009.[16] The Andorran branches have since closed.

In 2013 Monoprix opened a store in Doha, Qatar.[11] A store was also opened in Libya, however it later closed.[12]

Monoprix opened in Luxembourg in 2014.[17] Intentions to expand to Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Scandinavia and Spain were announced in late 2020.[18]

A Monoprix store opened in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in 2022.[19] The company also entered Kuwait in the same year.[20] The first Belgian Monoprix opened in spring 2024.[21]

In May 2025, plans were announced to open 210 Monoprix and Franprix stores in Morocco by 2035 in an agreement with H&S (owned by Moncef Belkhayat). Moroccan previously operated in the 20th century.[22]

Egyptian stores are planned to open in Egypt in 2025.[23]

Stores also operate in La Réunion and Guadeloupe.

External links

• monoprix.fr