Despite the boycott, numerous objections and appeals by Volodymyr Zelensky, the Mulliez group did not decide to withdraw or even freeze its activities in Russia. The French three – Auchan, Decathlon, Leroy Merlin, which belong to it – still remain on the local market. – It is not an easy decision, but I am convinced that it is the right decision. I am supported by the owners of the company, employees and our partners – said on Saturday, March 26, President and CEO of Auchan Retail Yves Claude in an interview for “The Sunday Diary”.
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Auchan stays in Russia. The president responded to the appeal of Volodymyr Zelensky
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday 23 March he spoke to the National Assembly of France. – French companies must leave the Russian market, Auchan, Leroy Merlin, Renault they must cease to be sponsors of the Russian war machine – he said. “Values are more important than profits,” he emphasized then.
In an interview, Yves Claude referred to the words of the Ukrainian leader and stated that he was ready to accept public criticism. – Mr. Zelenskiy is a very brave man whom I respect. In context warthat his country is experiencing is a role model. But these words are unfair. Putting people up against each other is useless, he said. – The most important thing for us is to retain our employees and ensure the fulfillment of our basic mission, which is to continue feeding people in these two countries, he added.
President of Auchan. “We act for the benefit of the civilian population”
Auchan operates 40 supermarkets and employs around 6,000 employees in Ukraine, including in war-stricken regions and around 30,000 in Russia. By staying in place, Claude stressed that the group was helping workers and, above all, the civilian population. – In our stores, we bake fresh bread every day for Ukrainians and Russians, which is very important at the moment – he said.
– If Auchan left Russia, we would lose 30,000 jobs. people. Our clients urge us to stay – said Yves Claude. He stressed that stores are currently operating in extreme conditions. – They are open and adjust their working hours to threats, alarms or the decision of the authorities at the curfew – he added.
Auchan generates EUR 3.2 billion of turnover in Russia annually
The Mulliez family empire is the largest French employer in Russia and the largest payer to the Kremlin’s budget, as evidenced by the numbers. Auchan itself has there, right after France, the second largest chain of supermarkets – it has a total of 231 large stores, which generate EUR 3.2 billion of turnover annually – says retaildetail.eu. This means that it reaches 10 percent in the country of Vladimir Putin. its worldwide sales.
Would Mulliez have collapsed if it had withdrawn from the Russian market? – We have to take care of the company. We have suspended the investments, and our subsidiary operates in the autarky system. In Russia, we have 231 stores and we are active in e-commerce. If we leave, we risk expropriation [co zapowiadał rosyjski rząd – red.] and we expose our local managers to criminal prosecution for bringing us bankruptcy. And if we transfer our assets to a third party, they will be taken over by Russian capital. It will not bring peace, but it will strengthen the Russian economic and financial system. In 2021, our sales in Russia amounted to EUR 3.2 billion, or 10 percent. our global turnover, but the results matter less. Anyway, we predict losses in 2022. So it would be possible to leave the country from an economic point of view, but not from a human point of view, Yves Claude explained in an interview.
According Bloomberg in 2021, Mulliez was the 15th richest family in the world. Their fortune is valued at $ 45.9 billion, which would put her in third place in France for private wealth after Bernard Aurnault (LVMH) and Francoise Bettencourt Meyers (L’Oreal).
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