Casino Restructuring: 27 Monop' Stores Transferred to New Franchise Structure
Casino, the French retail giant, has been in restructuring mode for several years, with a strong presence of Tunisian businessman Moez-Alexandre Zouari. 27 Monop' stores located in Paris and Île-de-France, have just been transferred to a new joint-venture franchise structure between Monoprix and the Zouari family. However, the operation is pending consultation with employee representatives and authorization from competition authorities.
The discreet entrepreneur is already a major player in distribution, with 115 Franprix stores and 15 Monop' stores operated under franchise. In 2023, he attempted to acquire the entire Casino group with Xavier Niel and Matthieu Pigasse, but was unsuccessful. He currently holds Picard, Maxi Bazar, and Stokomani.
The operation is a win-win. It allows Casino to maintain its presence in urban proximity at a lower cost. For Moez-Alexandre Zouari, it reinforces his position in urban distribution. There is a consensus in the French market that the new managers of the 27 Monop' stores will provide excellent operational performance and reduce fixed costs.
We need such a professional in Tunisia to invest. He attempted to do so in 2011 with Somocer, buying over 20% of its capital. Unfortunately, he was unable to pursue his venture and eventually liquidated it a few months later. His return to his home country will have a positive impact. Moez-Alexandre Zouari is known for being a seasoned businessman who does not engage in loss-making sectors or companies.
