He persists and signs. Several brands in the Mulliez galaxy have been singled out for several days after their decision to maintain their activities in Russia despite the war in ukraine. A policy denounced on Wednesday by the Ukrainian president himself, who called on French companies still active in Russia to ” stop sponsoring Russia’s war machine “. While some have since done so, like Renault, others have still not lowered the curtain like Auchan, Decathlon and Leroy Merlin. Wednesday, in a press release, the management of Leroy Merlin explains its decision.
The destruction of a Leroy Merlin store in Kyiv by a Russian bombardment, in the night from Sunday to Monday, did not change the position of Adeo, the parent company of Leroy Merlin. The “maintenance of our activity in Russia is a decision which is not easy”, can we read in the press release. “We have no reason to condemn our Russian teams for a war they did not choose”, continues the management of the sign, advancing its “responsibility as an employer”.
Leaving Russia would be “an abandonment considered as a premeditated bankruptcy”
For Leroy Merlin, closing shop would be worse: “Closing the company overnight, closing our stores would simply be an abandonment considered as a premeditated bankruptcy, therefore illegal, opening the way to an expropriation, which would strengthen the financial means of the Russia”.
Requested by 20 Minutes a few days ago, the management of Leroy Merlin, Decathlon and Auchan had not responded. Nevertheless, for the latter sign, an internal communication had explained the desire to remain present in Russia so as not to penalize the employees and customers of Auchan.
In their approach, the companies of the Mulliez galaxy have found support in the person of the president of Hauts-de-France, Xavier Bertrand. “If tomorrow these groups in the region and all the French groups that are there cease their activities, what happens? They will be expropriated and either Russian or international groups will take their place,” he said on Thursday on France Blue North.
For the president of Hauts-de-France, if these companies have to close in Russia, it should only be following government measures. And nothing has been done in this direction. Xavier Bertrand believes that it is up to “Mr. Macron to be heard on this file to say clearly what they want”. For his part, the boss of Adeo declared that “we respect all the directives of the French State”.