Leclerc opens city-centre shop with hypermarket prices in south France

'Small shops are sometimes up to 30% more expensive than hypermarkets,' a representative said, adding that the chain wants to change that

Leclerc is branching out by opening a new city-centre shop in Draguignan

Grand Warszawski / Shutterstock

Thomas Brent Thomas Brent

Published Tuesday 11 October 2022 - 11:12 Modified Tuesday 11 October 2022 - 11:12

Supermarket giant Leclerc has launched a new shop in the south of France that aims to offer ‘hypermarket prices’ in a small city-centre shop.

It is the chain’s first supérette (compact supermarket) and has been opened in the town of Draguignan in the Var department.

Loïc Faraco, head of the Leclerc in neighbouring town Le Luc and representative of other surrounding stores, said that “the idea is to offer as many products as possible at hypermarket prices in the town centre” and to “go against what has been done up to now”.

“Small shops are sometimes up to 30% more expensive than hypermarkets,” he told Var Matin.

“Just because they are local shops that people can walk to, does not mean they should have to pay more.”

There are already three Leclerc click and collect stores in Draguignan but the new supérette will be the chain’s first city-centre walk-in shop in the town.

The heads of rival supérettes, such as Spar and U Utile, have said that the new competition may affect their shops.

“It's never good news when a competitor sets up shop nearby. Especially when they have attractive prices,” said Laurent Pulitano, head of the local U Utile.

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