Bricomarché experimentation

The distribution channel of the French “Mousquetaires” (Musketeers) is continuing to experiment with a depot store concept. Last summer saw the opening of a third store in Gauchy, Picardy, following similar stores in Harfleur, Normandy, and Chanas, Rhône-Alpes. Situated right nextdoor to a 1 000 m² Bricomarché, this latest Brico Cash features a heated floorspace of 3 000 m², where it offers a core DIY product range. The intention is to gain further experience before duplicating the format any more. More than 20 per cent of DIY stores in France are run on depot lines. The Kingfisher Group’s Brico Dépôt format alone accounts for 17 per cent of the total, with 80 stores and sales of € 2.334 bn at the end of 2006. The rest is made up of the Adeo Group’s Bricoman line (21 stores and € 283 mio to end 2006) and Samse’s L’Entrepôt du Bricolage (13 stores and € 156 mio to end 2006).