Amazon expands in France with Casino partnership
Amazon (AMZN) is putting 1,000 delivery lockers into French supermarkets owned by retail giant Casino Groupe (CO.PA), as part of an expanded partnership with the company.
Casino Groupe said on Tuesday that it was “strengthening its partnership with Amazon to create more convenience and services for customers in France.”
1,000 Amazon Lockers will be put in branches of stores including Monoprix, Monop’, Géant, Hyper Casino, Casino Supermarché, Leader Price, Casino shop, Vival and Spar across France. Customers will be able to pick up Amazon orders made online in the lockers.
As part of the deal, Casino products such as wine and organic food will be stocked on Amazon. Casino’s supermarket chain Monoprix will also help Amazon expand its grocery delivery business Prime Now to new cities outside of Paris within the next year. France is Amazon’s third largest European market after the UK and Germany.
“With this new partnership, we will be able to offer the greatest number of customers the best products and services whenever and wherever they wish,” Casino Group CEO Jean-Charles Naouri said in a statement.
“This announcement represents a new step in strengthening Casino’s omnichannel strategy to always be a little more in the heart of consumers’ lives.”
Casino shares (CO.PA) were unmoved by the announcement of the deal. Reuters reported that credit rating agency Standards & Poor’s cut its rating of Casino Groupe to “BB-negative outlook.”
Casino, which is one of France’s biggest retail companies, first began working with Amazon in September last year. The deal was the first Amazon signed with a French retailer and saw Monoprix groceries stocked on Prime Now, which offers delivery in France in up to two hours.
Paris-listed Casino Group has a market capitalisation of €4.1bn and has over 9,000 stores across France. It had sales of €37.9bn last year.
