Partnership between Casino and Zouari, notable business magnate, aimed at rejuvenating Monop
Casino Shake-Up: Turning 27 Monop' Stores into Franchises
The casino ain't just for gambling—it's shaking things up in the retail world, too! Casino Group, despite its 1st quarter 2025 results showing a dip, is making moves for 27 Monop' stores in Paris and the Ile-de-France region. According to the big boss, Philippe Palazzi, CEO of Casino Group and head honcho of Monoprix, a joint venture between the two is underway to transform these stores into franchises. This partnership is set to roll out post-consultation with the employee bodies and green light from the competition authorities.
Casino has 160 Monop' stores in France, with two-thirds already operating under franchise. The lease-to-own deal includes a makeover plan to update the stores in accordance with the latest Monop' concept, but Casino ain't shouldering the tab alone—they're gotta keep those savings coming in. The group stresses that this operation won't affect employment, with jobs remaining intact. They're ashing to strengthen Monoprix's network and power up its development by teaming up with a historic partner.
The Man behind the Move: Moez-Alexandre Zouari
So who is this historic partner, you ask? Enter Moez-Alexandre Zouari, a retail mogul already owning 115 Franprix and 15 Monop' stores operated under franchise. Zouari's also known for his ownership of Picard frozen food chain, the Maxi Bazar network, and clearance retailer Stokomani. Casino and Zouari's brother, Anouar Zouari, made headlines earlier when they tried to acquire the entire Casino Group. However, their bid was scrapped. With Xavier Niel and Matthieu Pigasse spoiling their party, the field was cleared for Daniel Kretinsky, the new boss in town, taking charge in March with support from Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière and Attestor fund.
In other news, Monoprix is mixing up one of its departments for a tasty twist. Despite struggling, Casino, scheduled to hold its general assembly on April 30, reported a 5% drop in sales for the 1st quarter, reaching €2 billion. When you compare apples to apples—that's sales with a consistent store count—the drop is only 1.2%, representing a slight improvement compared to the 3.8% fall in the 1st quarter of 2024. It's been 12 months since the gang took the helm at Casino, and Philippe Palazzi is optimistic for the future. He's confident that Casino, with a market share of between 2.8 and 3.2%, has a bright future in France.
- The partnership between Casino Group and Moez-Alexandre Zouari, a retail entrepreneur already managing 115 Franprix and 15 Monop' stores under franchise, aims to transform 27 Monop' stores into franchises.
- With the lease-to-own deal, Casino Group anticipates savings by splitting the costs of updating the stores to align with the latest Monop' concept.
- Moez-Alexandre Zouari is known for his ownership of various retail businesses, including Picard frozen food chain, Maxi Bazar network, and Stokomani.
- Despite disagreements in the past, Casino Group and Moez-Alexandre's brother, Anouar Zouari, were outbid by Xavier Niel and Matthieu Pigasse for control of Casino Group, leaving Daniel Kretinsky as the new leader, who took charge in March with support from Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière and Attestor fund.
