FRANCE: Auchan to launch new online marketplace | Progresiv
Auchan, the third largest food retailer in France, has announced it will increase its product lines and range. It does this by launching a new online marketplace. For now, Auchan will focus on two main categories: food, which is the core of its business, and garden articles. The categories ‘high-tech’, ‘baby care’, ‘furniture’ and ‘toys’ should complement the marketplace by the end of this year. 
Auchan is known primarily as a food retailer, but this is about to change as the French retailer hasannounced it will launch a range of new product categories later this year. The new marketplace is in partnership with Mirakl. Based on the SaaS technology of this French company, other retailers like Rue du Commerce, Pixmania and Darty have launched online marketplaces in the past. And now Auchan is Mirakl’s latest client.
The online marketplace is part of Auchan’s global strategy (it wants to expand its presence in China and Russia). By using Mirakl’s platform, Auchan is able to select and manage its third party vendors, so the quality of service and the relevance of products with the Auchan brand can be guaranteed. According to Mirakl, choosing the marketplace model makes perfect sense for Auchan’s existing business.
The marketplace won’t be confined to just ecommerce. It will integrate with the company’s existing cross-channel strategy, so purchases and returns from the marketplace will be possible from the physical stores. Interesting to note is that in 2000, Auchan (called Auchan.fr since June of this year) was the first in France to start with drive-through services. (www.ecommercenews.eu)
