Conforama and Casino Groups to create a joint central purchasing agency
The Conforama and Casino Groups announced to create a joint central purchasing agency for non-food products with operations set to launch for the 2017 purchasing negotiations.
Named “Mano”, the agency will aim to optimise for both groups purchasing in France from the main international suppliers of household appliances (both white and brown goods).
It will thus be positioned as the leader or co-leader in its areas of activity and enhance the competitiveness of the Conforama, Cdiscount, Géant, Monoprix and Casino Supermarket banners.
The Conforama and Casino Groups will each continue to independently operate their sales outlets and e-commerce sites in line with their banners’ identities and their respective sales strategies.
This development was also reported in daily Le Figaro, which said that the JV will be purchasing goods for about EUR 1.3bn in 2017. The report noted that under the last legislation, any alliance has to be notified with the Competition Authority if the purchasing figure amounts to EUR 3bn annually at least.