The Mousquetaires Group, a privately held French retail group that operates Intermarché supermarkets, has submitted a firm offer to rival Colruyt Group to acquire 81 supermarkets and 44 service stations in eastern and central-eastern France.

The acquisition aligns with the group’s strategy to strengthen the Netto and Intermarché brands in France and achieve a 20 per cent market share by 2028.

The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

The group stated that the acquisition would allow more French consumers to access lower prices and discover private-label products manufactured by Mousquetaires’ own factories in France.

Upon completion, approximately 1,300 Colruyt employees will join the Mousquetaires Group.

These employees will remain under the collective agreements of Colruyt Retail France SAS for 15 months following the transfer to the Intermarché and Netto brands.

Additionally, the group will create 175 permanent positions for employees from Colruyt Retail France SAS logistics bases not included in the acquisition. These workers will join Mousquetaires’ logistics sites in Dole du Jura and Pagny-sur-Meuse.

The deal is subject to consultation with Colruyt France Retail’s employee representative bodies and requires approval from relevant authorities. Completion is expected in the first half of 2026.

“Entering exclusive negotiations highlights the agility, dynamism, and strength of our independent retail group,” said Thierry Cotillard, president of the Mousquetaires Group. “This project is made possible by our members, who directly submitted offers to acquire these stores."

“It further accelerates the market share growth we’ve achieved in recent months, both through our existing stores and the integration of new locations.”

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