La Poste in deal to co-locate food stores with post offices
France’s La Poste has signed a five-year deal with a major supermarket chain Casino Proximite that will see local food shops set up next to post offices. The deal was signed this week by Christian Cleret, CEO of La Poste’s real estate subsidiary Poste Immo, and Jean-Pierre Lanzetti, director general of Casino Proximite.
It will specifically target post offices in towns of less than 12,000 inhabitants, where space is available.
The deal is initially expected to involve around 50 sites across France.
La Poste said it has been undertaking an important programme to modernise its postal facilities for the past several years, and that in moving its mail preparation activities to the outskirts of towns and cities, it has left behind empty space next to many of its post offices.
“The unoccupied areas of these sites can now be rented by Casino, to bring in local grocery shops,” said La Poste.
“This innovative partnership provides a triple benefit for La Poste Group – leasing vacant space to local shops will lower our existing real estate costs, revitalise these areas and improve the services and appearance of city centres,” the company added.
La Poste said it had agreed a partnership with Casino based on shared values of customer service, which would allow the retailer to strengthen its presence in small towns.
The Casino Group currently has about 11,700 stores worldwide, with a presence in Latin America and Southeast Asia as well as its 6,700 stores in France.
