In front of the Leroy Merlin store at ul. Ostrobramska 73B, a picket was held on April 2, 2022 to stop the operations in Russia by the retail chains: & nbsp; Auchan, Leroy Merlin and Decathlon.
On March 4, 2022, Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, met with the leaders of 15 largest companies with French capital operating on the Russian market. Apart from the president, the government side was represented by: & nbsp; Bruno Le Maire, Minister for the Economy, Finance and Economic Recovery; Agnes Pannier-Runacher, Minister of State at the Ministry, responsible for industry; Julien Denormandie, Minister of Agriculture and Food.
The president’s message was clear: – Do not make hasty decision to stop your activities in Russia. Consult with the government. If you stay in the Russian market, you will receive financial aid. If you withdraw from Russia, the Chinese will take your place.
One of the invited entrepreneurs was Yves Claude, from November 21, 2021 the CEO of Auchan Retail International Société Anonyme. He represented the Mulliez family, to which, through the holding Association Familiale Mulliez (AFM), include the following retail chains: Auchan, Leroy Merlin and Decathlon.
After meeting with the president, Yves Claude gave an interview to journalists of the weekly „Le Journal du Dimanche” (Gazeta Niedzielna) and informed that none of the retail chains would withdraw from the Russian market.
On March 11, 2022, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti revealed the content of a letter that the management board of Leroy Merlin Société Anonyme addressed to trading partners in the Russian Federation: “The management of the Leroy Merlin hypermarket chain has decided not to leave the Russian market. After some companies have left the market, we are open to suggestions to increase deliveries and expand the range. ”
