Colruyt to buy French wholesalers
wholesale food distribution business with the acquisition of two
Paris-based companies, Jean Didier and Harrydis.
Colruyt, the Belgian retail group, has signed an agreement with the French food distribution companies Jean Didier and Harrydis which will see the two groups become part of Colruyt's French unit, Pro à Pro Distribution.
Colruyt did not say how much it was paying for the two Paris-based companies, but it will acquire 100 per cent of the shares in both firms.
Didier had sales of around €25 million last year, according to Colruyt, and split its business between grocery distribution in the Paris region and frozen food distribution in the French overseas provinces and territories (or DOM/TOMs as they are known). Harrydis is a smaller operation, with sales of around €6.5 million.
The acquisitions are in line with Colruyt's expansion programme which will see the retailer move into the foodservice and food distribution business in France and Belgium.
Colruyt said that the deals would give it a significant foothold in the important Parisian market of 10 million consumers and in the growing export market - Colruyt's Doumenge grocery distribution business based in southern France will now also expand its business to the DOM/TOMs.
The Belgian group now has grocery wholesale operations throughout France - Didier and Harrydis in Paris, Doumenge in the south, Ripotot in the north east and Blin in the north west.
