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Commercial shopping

How the French government plans to transform ‘ugly’ commercial zones

The proposal includes transforming sprawling shopping centres into more attractive and environmentally friendly mixed-use sites

Iconic French chain Galeries Lafayette in financial trouble

The 26 department stores owned by businessman Michel Ohayon across France have been placed under a ‘safeguard procedure’

Vending machines prove booming French market for producers and buyers

We speak to a leading player in France’s vending machine industry

France Covid health pass likely to be needed at big shopping centres

The pass will likely only need to be shown to access shopping centres over 20,000m2, the government has said, with ministers set to debate and decide on the issue from tomorrow

500,000 shopkeepers in France launch anti-Amazon campaign

The online retail giant turns urban centres into ghost towns and destroys local jobs and the environment, the traders claim

French spreadable cheese La Vache Qui Rit celebrates 100th year

From quirky beginnings in the Jura to international fame and still-soaring sales, The Laughing Cow is just as cheerful 100 years on

Covid France rules: Large non-food commercial centres close

France is to close non-food commercial centres of more than 20,000m2, and food shoppers should now shop alone with one customer only per trolley. We explain the new commercial centre rules

Protests against Amazon warehouses across France

Protesters formed human chains and planted trees to rail against Amazon, including a planned 38,000m2, five-storey warehouse

Shops in France launch repair schemes

Two household appliance firms have launched schemes to encourage customers to repair rather than replace faulty out-of-warranty items

France: 4-fold rise in online shopping scams last month

Online scams skyrocketed last month, with scammers targeting online shoppers by email, SMS, instant messaging, and social media

Black Friday in France: Row erupts over possible sales delay

As the economy minister calls for the shopping event to be delayed, shopkeepers call for reopening and a consumer group for more regulation

France: La Poste hires 9,000 new staff in Christmas run-up

La Poste is set to hire double the number of temporary staff to cope with up to "four million parcels per day" before Christmas and extra delivery services but unions say this is not enough

Which shops can stay open during lockdown in France?

From today non-essential shops will close during confinement. We explain which ones can stay open

Why are French city centres attracting fewer visitors?

Experts say there are many factors at play - notably competition from large shops on city outskirts that have more parking spaces - which are leaving an increasing number of vacant commercial properties in city centres.

Amazon France to stay closed for two more days

Amazon France, the French branch of the online retail giant, is to remain closed for two more days - until Wednesday April 22 - pending an appeal to a court order to limit its activities nationwide.

Amazon France must stop all ‘non-essential’ deliveries

Amazon France is no longer allowed to deliver any “non-essential” items during the Covid-19 crisis, as a French court condemns it for continuing to trade as normal, and for not doing enough to protect its workers.

Covid-19: Amazon France stops ‘non-priority’ delivery

Retail giant Amazon is to stop all “non-priority” deliveries in France during the current period of confinement due to Covid-19, it has announced.

French group Auchan tests sale of second-hand clothes

French hypermarket and supermarket group Auchan is now testing the sale of second-hand clothes in five stores.

Ride-share apps in France call for driver strike

Drivers in France for ride-sharing services such as Uber have been called to strike and log out of their apps by their national union, with plans for a protest in two weeks.

France to end systematic paper receipts

France is to end paper receipts for all transactions as standard by January 1, 2023 - including for shopping with cash, card, or vouchers; parking, and withdrawing money at ATMs.

Major French cities rated on key socio-economic issues

Major cities in France have been ranked on key issues such as public safety, poverty, childcare provision, culture, and policing - with Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Nice and Marseille top in many areas.

French hypermarket forced to stop Sunday trial

Supermarket group Casino has abandoned plans to open one of its Géant hypermarkets with only automatic self-scan tills on a second Sunday afternoon after hundreds of unionists threatened to protest.

French associations launch petition to ban cold calls

Consumer associations in France have launched a petition calling for a ban on cold marketing calls - with more than 80,000 signatures collected in less than 24 hours.

Patient art of popular French festive treat

Brief history of one high-end confiserie and chocalaterie explains the weeks-long process of creating candied fruit

France warned over Christmas present delivery scams

Online Christmas shoppers in France are being warned against a new scam that asks recipients to pay fake customs fees on their parcels “before they can be delivered”.

Credit card cashback schemes growing in France

Several major French banks are now giving money back to customers who use their credit card to buy products at partner shops, a practice that is growing in the country.

Uber drivers in France on strike over app changes

Driver of the ride-sharing app Uber are on strike in several cities in France, in protest against a change in some of the platform’s key driver settings.

Fan and aircon sales up 400% in France before heatwave

Sales of fans and air conditioning units have shot up by as much as 400% in some parts of France this week as residents prepare for the heatwave that is forecast to hit next week.

French city of Marseille to pedestrianise centre

The city of Marseille is to launch a project to pedestrianise the entire town centre, including 22 hectares of newly pedestrian-only zones, requiring new bus routes, and new tariffs for underground car parking.

French bakers accused in court for working too much

Two bakers from Calvados (Normandy) have been summoned before their local courts, accused of illegally selling bread through their bakery seven days per week.

French mayors call for €1 tax on online shop delivery

Mayors across France have called for a €1 tax on each parcel delivered to people’s doorsteps, with the money raised going to support local shops that are suffering due to the rise in online shopping.

School trips to Apple Stores banned by ministry

School trips to Apple Stores have been banned by the education ministry, after a furore over claims they were exploiting children for commercial gain.

Boulanger fined €3,000 for refusing to take a day off

A baker in Aube is fighting a fine of €3,000 for working too much, after his shop opened seven days a week in the summer of 2017.

Airbus releases video of unmanned flying taxi flight

Toulouse-based aircraft giant Airbus has unveiled the first images of its new unmanned, flying taxi project, in a video showing the model’s maiden flight.

List published of Carrefour stores at risk of closure

The list of over 250 Carrefour supermarkets threatened with closure has been published, with the regions of Occitanie, Île-de-France, Hauts-de-France, Provence-Côte d’Azur and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes set to be most affected.

Stylish lights from the Alps

Luz Eva shine a light on social and environmental engagement

New CEO for Ikea France promises fresh, young approach

A new CEO has taken charge of Ikea France, promising to bring the famous Swedish brand more “up to date” for young, French consumers.

Commercial shopping

How the French government plans to transform ‘ugly’ commercial zones

Iconic French chain Galeries Lafayette in financial trouble

Vending machines prove booming French market for producers and buyers

Why do French restaurants have such bright lighting?

France's love-hate relationship with Amazon

France’s favourite brands in 2021: Decathlon, Peugeot, and Leclerc

Trending

Driving fine bonanza as France increases number of speed cameras

French ‘martyr village’ destroyed in WW2 receives €1 million donation

Alert sirens in France to sound this Thursday May 2

New UK/France border checks: visas, residency cards and which queues?

Storm and hail warnings as rain sweeps through France

7 reader questions on new France/UK border checks answered

Museums, mothers and muguet: key dates to note in May in France