French all over the world

The French Groupe Adeo, the largest DIY store operator in Europe, is currently providing quite a bit of evidence of its dynamics again. Several expansion projects are underway at the same time.
In the middle of December for example, the subsidiary Leroy Merlin opened the third location of its small store concept Decorating Company in China. The shop, which is only around 250 m², concentrates on providing advice and design services for the renovation and modernisation of homes. This is according to a report from the Italian industry service "10 minutes DIY and Garden" (diyandgarden.com). A further five to six of these showroom shops are to follow.
Groupe Adeo is also pushing forward the development of alternative sales concepts in other parts of the world. In Brazil, where Adeo's primary sales channel Leroy Merlin has already been active for a long time, the first location of the Zôdio sales channel was opened in São Paulo in December. This sales format is tailored to crafts, cooking, home furnishings and decoration with around 30 000 articles. So far there are 22 subsidiaries in France and three in Italy. Expansion to Spain is being prepared.
Leroy Merlin has also been testing a showroom concept in Italy for a year. Now, as "10 minutes" also reports, a second of such locations is to be opened in spring 2018.

In addition, the primary sales channel Leroy Merlin has already begun its expansion in a new country and, at the same time, also a new continent: the French have already been present in Johannesburg since 20 May 2017 with an online shop and a store with the title "Campus by Leroy Merlin" which is attracting attention through its workshops. The first Leroy Merlin DIY store in the country is currently under construction. The opening of the first South African location, based on the large-format Leroy Merlin concept, has been announced for 2018 in Johannesburg.
Adeo is also working on new sales ideas in its home market France. A new format for the professional business is currently being developed here. According to information from the magazine Le Moniteur, the sales channel will be called Négoces & Cie. To start with, roughly ten locations, each with 300 m², are to be opened at sites in the Ile-de-France region around Paris.