© AFP – ARIS MESSINIS
Retroville shopping center in Kyiv
After a bombardment in Kyiv, the Ukrainian branch of Leroy Merlin asks the Mulliez group (Auchan and Decathlon) to stop its sales in Russia.
Employees of the Ukrainian branch of Leroy Merlin asked the French brand specializing in DIY, as well as the other brands of the Mulliez family association (AFM) present in Russia, on Monday, Auchan and Decathlon, to cease their activities there, while a Leroy Merlin store was bombed Sunday evening in kyiv. The official Instagram account of Leroy Merlin in Ukraine “leroymerlin.ua” posted a photo of the store on Monday bombed in kyiv Sunday evening with the mention “cease sales in Russia” and a link to an online petition on the “openpetition.eu” site asking Adeo, the holding company of Leroy Merlin, to cease its activities in Russia. The brand is, like Auchan and Decathlon, controlled by the family Mulliez, 7e French fortune of the Challenges ranking.
8 dead in bombing
The Retroville shopping center in the northwest of kyiv was bombed overnight from Sunday to Monday, causing the death of at least eight people, according to the Ukrainian General Prosecutor’s Office, while Russian forces are still trying to surround the country’s capital. “We vigorously ask Adeo and AFM to cease (their) activities in Russia, which will deprive the aggressor of the opportunity to finance” the Russian offensive in Ukraine, further indicates this petition, signed “Leroy Merlin Ukraine” and which had collected just over 5,500 signatures on Monday at midday. An employee speaking on condition of anonymity explained to AFP that this petition had been carried out on behalf of a “large part of the Ukrainian employees” of the group. Solicited by AFP Monday mid-morning, the communication of Adeo and Leroy Merlin had not reacted at midday.
Establishment in Russia
Not very talkative in general, the French brand specializing in DIY had previously declined any request for comment on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Leroy Merlin has a strong presence in Russia, carrying out more than 18% of its global business there. Other brands of the Mulliez Family Association, Auchan and to a lesser extent Decathlon are also present in Russia. Auchan operates 231 stores in Russia, for a turnover of 3.2 billion euros, or more than 10% of its overall activity.