©Reuters. The French distribution group Auchan decides to continue its activities in Russia
Paris, March 27 (.).- The French distribution group Auchan, which operates in Spain under the Alcampo banner, assured this Sunday that it will maintain its activities in Russia, given that a task at this time “from a human point of view unthinkable” would be opinion”.
The company had been directly questioned by Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski when he indicated in a telematics speech to French parliamentarians on March 23 that Auchan, Renault (PA:), Leroy Merlin (MC:) and others should stop being “sponsors of the Russian war machine”.
“His words are unfair. The most important thing, in our opinion, is to keep our employees and ensure our main mission of feeding people,” said the group’s CEO, Yves Claude, to the weekly Le Journal du Dimanche.
Auchan has had a presence in Russia for about 20 years, has about 30,000 employees, about 40% of whom are also shareholders, and 231 stores that the manager fears will be expropriated if they go.
“We are sure that if we stay, we will help our workers and civilians,” added Claude, who recalled that his group has already suspended its investments in Russia and that its subsidiary operates autonomously.
Auchan reported sales of €3.2 billion in 2021, 10% of its global sales, and expects losses in 2022.
“A departure would be economically conceivable, but not humanely,” said the CEO, who armed himself with criticism in this regard and emphasized that the decision was not easy, but he was convinced that it was the right one. .
The carmaker Renault, which has its second largest market in Russia after France, announced on the same day as Zelenskyy’s speech that it would stop its activities in Russia because of the invasion of Ukraine.
Leroy Merlin instead chose to stay: “We have no reason to condemn our Russian teams for a war they didn’t choose,” the company said on March 24, also warning that an overnight closure could risk expropriation The floodgates would open up strengthening of Russian financial resources.
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