French retailer Auchan has entered exclusive negotiations to transfer 19 of its supermarkets, totalling roughly 33,000 sq. metres of sales area, to German discounter Lidl. Nine of the outlets were only acquired from Casino last year. The deal, which the two companies hope to close by the end of 2025, needs approval from French competition authorities and consultation with employee representatives. The disposal is part of Auchan’s broader restructuring after years of pressure on its hypermarket model. The group, controlled by the Mulliez family, narrowed its loss to about €600 million in 2025 but has yet to revive like-for-like sales despite price reductions averaging 8%. Management says cost controls and operational efficiency measures are beginning to stabilise margins. Rival Carrefour the same week said it is in exclusive talks to sell its loss-making Italian subsidiary to food group NewPrinces for a symbolic sum, ending a venture that generated €4.2 billion of revenue in 2024. The announcement accompanied first-half results showing net profit down 33% to €210 million on revenue of €46.56 billion. Carrefour’s board also unanimously renewed Chief Executive Officer Alexandre Bompard’s mandate beyond 2026. The parallel moves underline intensifying competition from discounters and e-commerce, pushing established French grocery chains to shed underperforming assets and refocus on more profitable markets.