The Mestdagh group, which operates about 90 Carrefour Market stores – mainly in Brussels and Wallonia but also in Aarschot and Tienen, is ending its exclusive partnership with Carrefour. This is reported by the specialized trade magazine RetailDetail and has been confirmed in company circles. There is a one-year notice, so the effect will only be felt after 2022.
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The master franchise contract was signed between the two parties several years ago, for a period of ten years. Mestdagh could change her mind within two years and has now done so, a spokeswoman for Carrefour Belgium confirms.
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In 2022, as long as the period of advance notice runs, nothing will change. For the period afterwards, neither Carrefour nor Mestdagh can say anything about the future of the stores involved. There are several options on the table, it said on Wednesday, including even a new collaboration.
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“There are several options, including a continuation under the Carrefour Market brand, but in order to do that, it was necessary to be hands-on and act quickly,” Mestdagh said in an internal statement. “In the current context, especially given the supply problems and the challenges for the sector in the future, it was necessary to make an in-depth analysis about the future of the group.”
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Social unrest
According to RetailDetail, the termination is accompanied by a change at the top of the Mestdagh group. CEO Fabienne Bryskère left her post on December 23, and has been replaced by Emmanuel Coria, who had already led the group until March 2020. According to Mestdagh, Bryskère’s departure happened “by mutual agreement”.
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In recent months there has been a lot of social unrest in the stores of Carrefour Market owned by Mestdagh. The trade unions complained of too much work pressure and in some places there were strikes.
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