Auchan France to launch new supermarket format Gourmand in 2018 | Progresiv
Auchan will experiment with a new supermarket chain named Auchan Gourmand. Three openings are planned from 2018. 
Auchan Gourmand is an old retailer project, dating back to 2009. At the time, Auchan was planning to open a 4500 square meter store in Marseille focusing on food and fresh produce. The layout, breaking with usual practices in hyper formats, was to break the aisles, focus on low furniture and even upset the traditional line of boxes.
Many times rejected, fallen to oblivion, the Auchan Gourmand has not been abandoned. It will return to the front of the scene in 2018, redesigned in a supermarket format. At least three stores will wear the new brand next year – one new store and two conversions of existing Simply Market. The offer will be reinforced with fresh products and more qualitative references in general.
In 2015, Auchan had already transformed a supermarket by imagining a "Simply Market Gourmand" concept. This initiative was presented as a more tactical than strategic move, to upgrade the super Parly2, a wealthy shopping center near Versailles. (www.lineaires.com)
