72 Auchan supermarkets to become Intermarché or Netto following sale

Auchan is selling 91 of its supermarkets, with 72 already having received an offer by the Mousquetaires group, which owns Intermarché and Netto.

The retailer put up the supermarkets for sale in January, saying that it preferred to focus on its hypermarket business.

The transfer could prove positive for shoppers, with the consumer association Que Choisir's April 2026 supermarket price survey, showing that Intermarché is cheaper on average than Auchan.

The study found Intermarché's supermarkets among the most competitively priced in France, while Auchan was ranked among the country's most expensive major supermarket chains.

Of the 91 supermarkets offered for sale, 17 are not included in the Mousquetaires group's offer, with the retail group reportedly refusing them due to their poor financial performance.

With no takeover in place yet for these sites, the retailer is said to be concerned about about the fate of these locations. 

The remaining stores are set to be reviewed on a site-by-site basis while Auchan looks for alternative solutions. Trade unions have also raised concerns over job security linked to the restructuring, with nearly 1,000 employees potentially at risk of losing their jobs.

The move is part of a broader restructuring of Auchan’s supermarket network in France, linked to a joint agreement with the Mousquetaires group (Intermarché, Netto). Under the plan, Auchan aims to jointly operate 167 food-focused supermarkets with the group under either Intermarché or Netto banner. These 167 stores are separate from the 72 that will be sold to the group. 

This project is now currently under review by the French Competition Authority, with the agency expected to make its decision by early July.

The deal is being examined because it could affect competition between supermarkets in local areas across France, and it may also affect how large retailers negotiate and work with food suppliers.

The restructuring comes as Auchan continues to face challenges in the highly competitive French grocery market. The retailer is owned by the Mulliez family, which also controls sporting goods giant Decathlon and several other major retail brands.

A full list of the stores affected can be seen here.