Casino and Les Mousquetaires (the Intermarche and Netto banners) are in exclusive talks to deepen and extend their strategic cooperation. The two groups want to extend the duration of their purchasing alliance, called Auxo, by two years to 2028. In addition, new partnerships are to be formed, amongst others, a purchasing alliance for private label food. The agreement equally foresees that points of sale of Casino could be sold to the Mousquetaires over a period of several years.
A few weeks ago, Casino had already agreed with Teract, a garden center, pet and food retailer, to enter exclusive discussions to merge. The latter merge would create two separate entities: one controlled by Casino, bringing together the retail activities in France. And a new one, named Teract Ferme France, which would be in charge of supplying local agricultural products through a short food supply chain.
Casino is troubled by high debts, around 3 billion euros of which will be maturing in 2024 and 2025. Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky has already made known that he wants to sign up for a capital increase