Coopérative U
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retailing |
| Founded | 1894 |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | |
| Products | Food, bazaar, textiles, cultural products, etc. |
| Revenue | |
| Subsidiaries | Super U, Marché U, Super U, Utile |
| Website | https://www.magasins-u.com/ |
Coopérative U (Système U before 2024) is a French symbol group retailers cooperative of independent hypermarkets and supermarkets, headquartered in the Parc Tertiaire SILIC in Rungis, France.
It owns the trademarks Hyper U, Super U, U Express and Utile, which are used by its members.
In January 2025, the group announced that it had 1,804 stores in 15 countries.
History
[edit]
It is directly descended from the Pain Quotidien ('daily bread') cooperative which was founded in western France in 1894.[1] In 1920, the association brought together 300 affiliated grocers.
In 2023, Mercure International of Monaco will begin replacing the Casino and Géant brands with Coopérative U in Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon and Senegal.[2]
In February 2024, the Schiever group becomes a partner of Coopérative U.[3] It announces that it will begin replacing its Auchan hypermarkets with Hyper U and its Bi1 supermarkets with Super U in March 2025. [4]
On May 16, 2024, the group was renamed “Coopérative U”.[5]
In March 2025, the Schiever group started a replacement of its Auchan hypermarkets with Hyper U and its Bi1 supermarkets with Super U or U Express; 183 stores will gradually join the Coopérative U by 2027.[6]
When it published its annual results in February 2025, it announced that it had opened 21 new stores and signed 60 acquisitions from other brands.[6] In June 2025, the group announced 41 opening projects in Africa by 2028, notably via its partner Mercure International of Monaco and the replacement of Casino brands.[7]
Locations
[edit]
In January 2025, the group announced that it had 1,804 stores in 15 countries.[8]
Europe
[edit]| Year | Country |
|---|---|
| 1894 | France[9] |
| 1956 | Monaco |
| 2013 | Andorra[10] |
| 2024 | Switzerland[11] |
Africa
[edit]| Year | Country |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Mauritius[12] |
| 2012 | Benin[13] |
| 2014 | Ivory Coast[14] |
| 2015 | Cameroon[15] |
| 2017 | Senegal[16] |
| 2018 | Guinea |
| 2019 | Morocco[17] |
| 2022 | Madagascar[18] |
| 2022 | Burkina Faso[19] |
| 2024 | Gabon |
| 2025 | Congo-Brazzaville |
Overseas France
[edit]North America
[edit]Caribbean
[edit]South America
[edit]Oceania
[edit]Africa
[edit]The sub-brands
[edit]
There are four brands found within Coopérative U:
- The largest (in size terms) is the hypermarket Hyper U, which accounts for 15.89% of the group. There are 71 Hyper U stores, which account for a total of 239,293 square metres of retail space (at an average of 4,985 square metres per store). The average spend per trip is €43.60.[20] These are generally found outside larger towns, but normally as stand-alone structures (rather than as part of a shopping centre)
- The next brand down (in terms of size) is Super U which accounts for 79.58% of the group. There are 773 Super U stores, which account for a total of 1,355,004 square metres of retail space (at an average of 2,016 square metres per store). The average spend per trip is €33.30. These are typical supermarkets, and are found either in the centre or on the outskirts of smaller towns. Again they exist as standalone structures.[20]
- Within city centres (and in rural areas), there are smaller stores known as U Express, which account for 4.53% of the group. There are 294 U Express stores, which account for a total of 104,468 square metres of retail space (at an average of 730 square metres per store). The average spend per trip is €17.00.[20]
- Utile are the smallest brand stores in Système U with 410 locations across France. They are usually run as independent convenience stores and so do not accept Système U clubcards. They are found mainly in small towns, village centers and at rest stations (except on dual carriageways and motorways) in rural parts of France.
References
[edit]- ↑ Jean-Louis Roveyaz, Bruno de Laage, Patrick Mérienne (2008). L'Entreprise coopérative, une alternative moderne. L'Harmattan. p. 68. ISBN 978-2-296-06602-1.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Nelly Fualdes (September 26, 2023). "Comment Système U profite du recul de Casino en Afrique". jeuneafrique.com.
- ↑ Myriam Lebret (2024-03-07). "Schiever rejoint Système U, une structure "en adéquation avec notre vision" assure Vincent Picq, PDG du groupe". www.lyonne.fr. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
- ↑ Magali Picard (December 16, 2024). "Où et quand vont ouvrir les 15 premiers magasins de Schiever transformés en U ?". lsa-conso.fr.
- ↑ "Système U change de nom et devient «Coopérative U»". lefigaro.fr. May 16, 2024.
- 1 2 Olivier Dauvers (February 12, 2025). "+ 4 % en 2024 : Coopérative U bien parti pour tenir son Cap 15". olivierdauvers.fr.
- ↑ Olivier Dauvers (June 5, 2025). "Coopérative U profite des difficultés de Casino pour accélérer en Afrique". olivierdauvers.fr.
- ↑ Frédéric Carluer-Lossouarn (March 13, 2025). "U a franchi le cap des 1.800 magasins". lineaires.com.
- ↑ Marie DANCER (April 6, 2008). "Système U, la petite enseigne qui monte". la-croix.com.
- ↑ LSA (July 10, 2013). "Système U débarque en Andorre". lsa-conso.fr.
- ↑ Frédéric Carluer-Lossouarn (April 11, 2024). "Système U ouvre son premier magasin en Suisse". lineaires.com.
- ↑ Pricilla Samuel Rachelle Veerasamy (July 9, 2021). "Super U de Grand-Baie à Tamarin, l'histoire continue". business-magazine.mu.
- ↑ Laurence Haxaire avec F.V. (January 14, 2013). "U : premier pas international… au Bénin". lineaires.com.
- ↑ F. C.-L. (February 4, 2016). "Spécial Afrique : Yves Petitpas, président de U Export, en charge des magasins U dans les Dom-Tom et à l'étranger". lineaires.com.
- ↑ BRM (July 1, 2015). "La chaîne des supermarchés Super U débarque au Cameroun". investiraucameroun.com.
- ↑ Frédéric Carluer-Lossouarn (December 3, 2018). "Afrique : une piste suivie à pas comptés". lineaires.com.
- ↑ infomédiaire (March 21, 2019). "Rabat : Un mall de plus dans la capitale, et un 1er Super U au Maroc". infomediaire.net.
- ↑ Frédéric Carluer-Lossouarn (November 18, 2022). "Un premier Super U à Madagascar". lineaires.com.
- ↑ Charlotte Barriquand (December 18, 2024). "Coopérative U continue son expansion en Afrique". lsa-conso.fr.
- 1 2 3 Coopérative U website
