For years we were faithful to the HyperU in Villefranche. Admittedly it was largely because it was the most convenient to get to from our home; but for the "big shop" we all need from time to time it met our needs. Then one day (January 1st 2015) it became a Carrefour and one wonders how that can be. Most big hyper and supermarkets are franchises, allying the owner to a major distributer for supply and marketing support. But unlike Leclerc and Carrefour the SystemU owners remain fully independent, with no particular binding contract, which allows them to walk away when it suits them.
The company has signed agreements with Auchan for joint buying and distribution which could mean more changes to the "pavillon", and the independent owners are not happy about it.
It seems that the direction of SystemU would like to bind their partners to a more formal arrangement, going against the ethos of "independents". Whatever, it is clear that the desires of the owners come ahead of that of the customers
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