Belgian retailer Colruyt is set to withdraw from the French market, leading to the loss of over 700 jobs, 600 of which are located in the Dole (Jura) region alone.
The company, which has operated in France since 1998 – primarily in the north-east – cited ‘difficult conditions’ in the ‘highly competitive’ French food retail market.
According to French and Belgian media reports, the move follows weaker-than-expected profitability despite significant investment.
Store Sales, Job Losses
Colruyt will sell 100 of its 105 French stores to four different supermarket chains: 81 to Intermarché, 14 to Leclerc, three to Carrefour, and two to Super U.
While this sale secures the roles of 2,080 store employees, the company has failed to find buyers for its logistics centres – including its headquarters in Rochefort-sur-Nenon, near Dole – or its technical support services.
This lack of buyers is the direct cause of the job cuts.
According to trade unions, Colruyt has also been unable to find buyers for five specific stores, located in Carling and Faulquemont (Moselle), Sens (Yonne), Masevaux (Haut-Rhin) and Montchanin (Saône-et-Loire).
Union Response, Severance
The unions UNSA and CGT have cited a total figure of 705 job losses.
They expressed deep concern for the affected families, arguing that employees are once again bearing the cost of ‘financial and strategic decisions’.
Affected employment contracts are expected to terminate by March.
Colruyt Group stated that it has negotiated and signed an agreement with employee representatives that has been approved by the authorities.
The group noted that this agreement includes severance packages that are ‘significantly higher’ than those typically seen in the French retail sector.
A Phased Exit
The Belgian retail group began its withdrawal from France last June, when it announced exclusive discussions with Les Mousquetaires Group to sell 81 Colruyt supermarkets and 44 DATS petrol stations.
Colruyt officially ceased its Collect & Go service in France on 31 December 2025.
Dining and Cooking