The retail consortium behind French supermarket chains Intermarché and Ecomarché has quashed claims that the banners will be dropped amid a rebranding programme.
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Les Mousquetaires, which is the parent company for a string of independent food, DIY and clothing stores, said it is modernising its supermarket network but insisted the banners would remain.
“The company is not going to change the names of the Intermarché and Ecomarché. It would be dangerous for Intermarché because its name and concept are well known,” a spokesperson for Les Mousquetaires told just-food today (26 January).
However, the group had decided to launch an “ambitious plan” to modernise its supermarkets, the spokesperson said.
Under the programme, Les Mousquetaires is planning to “divide” Intermarché and Ecomarché into three different types of store according to their size.
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By GlobalDataStores of over 3,500 square metres would be larger supermarkets. Outlets around 2,500 sq m would be standard supermarkets, while shops of 1,000 sq m would be “small supermarkets”, the spokesperson said.
“The principal aim of these changes is to clarify the offer for the customer,” she added.
Last week, Les Mousquetaires booked a 6% rise in annual sales for 2008, buoyed by growth in Poland and Belgium.
This year, the spokesperson said the group planned to expand its store base by 150,000 sq m at home and by 90,000 abroad.
A further concept that looks set to be expanded is hard discount chain New Netto, the spokesperson added. Les Mousquetaires has already launched the concept in three French towns and is looking to roll it out further. “This test has met a great success and is going to be developed in France,” the spokesperson revealed.
