Amazon looking for physical stores, possible acquisition in France, says report
Amazon reportedly approached French distributors to seek possible partnerships or make an acquisition
BY Jeff Daniels
Online giant Amazon is on the prowl for approximately 15 store locations in France , especially in Paris, in the next two years, according to Le Monde newspaper.
The French paper also said the U.S. company has “approached French distributors to forge partnerships or make an acquisition in France.” The overall goal in mind for Amazon is “to get closer to a retailer to take advantage of its buying capacity that they do not have at the moment,” Le Monde said.
Le Monde said Amazon was in discussions with two independent food distribution companies in France.
“They have approached everyone but have no received any positive feedback,” said a distributor quoted by the paper.
According to the report, one of those approached was major French retail chain Monoprix, whose parent company is Groupe Casino. But it indicated that Casino said it “does not intend to sell Monoprix.”
The new stores in France could be used to perhaps expand the company’s Amazon Go grab-and-go concept. The concept is currently in a private beta test with only Amazon employees and located around the corner from the company’s headquarters in Seattle.