Auchan to Close 7 French Supermarkets Amid HMarket Competition

The two large stores of the famous brand in the Yvelines will be sold in the coming months and the 92 employees under contract, according to management, will keep their jobs. The group made this strong decision due to insufficient profitability caused by fierce competition from Carrefour, Leclerc, but especially from Hmarket in Les Mureaux, and Carrefour-Flins in Rambouillet, reports Le Parisien.

In Les Mureaux, Auchan was heavily affected by the arrival of HMarket at the end of 2021, a chain created in 2006 and specialized in "ethnic food". The brand only sells halal meat and no alcohol at all. A choice that is fully assumed in this municipality where there is a large Muslim community. "It’s a shame for Auchan, because it’s the only store in the area for all the people in the neighborhood but if it closes, I’ll come here... They say it’s really not expensive," says Aminata, 28.

Sylvain and Josette, two Auchan customers, have abandoned it for HMarket where they now stock up on fruits and vegetables. "Since inflation, we no longer hesitate to pick a little everywhere. And Auchan has become too expensive, even the employees admit it. So we go to HMarket. The cashiers are veiled, it’s true and it’s a bit weird the first time. But we go there to do our shopping, that’s all. Look, we came out with three full bags of vegetables for only 32 euros," confides this couple from Vernouillet.

HMarket’s prices defy all competition. Peppers cost 3.29 euros/kg, compared to 6.99 euros at Auchan. "It’s really interesting. I’m a little sad for Auchan... For the big shopping, I’ll go to Carrefour-Flins or Lidl. And at HMarket, which will be my second little Carrefour for everyday purchases!" declares Sabah, a fifty-year-old woman from Les Mureaux. With these extremely low prices, HMarket enjoys a good reputation among the middle class in this period marked by inflation.