Groupe Casino

Casino Guichard-Perrachon S.A.

Industry	Mass Retail
Founded	Saint-Etienne, France (1898 (1898))
Founder	Geoffroy Guichard
Headquarters	Saint-Étienne , France
Revenue	€41,971 million (2012)
Net income	€564 million (2012)
Total assets	€8,018,000,000 (2012)
Total equity	€15,0201 million (end 2012)
Owner	Jean-Charles Naouri : Merger of Rallye and Casino
Number of employees	318,600 employees worldwide, of which 79,900 in France (2012)
Subsidiaries	France : Geant Casino, Casino Supermarché, Petit Casino, Casino Shop, Casino Shopping, Casino Restaration, Monoprix, Naturalia, Franprix, Leader Price, Spar, Vival, CDiscount / Thailand : Big C / Vietnam : Big C, C Express / Brazil : Pao de Acucar, Extra / Colombia : Exito / Argentina : Libertad, Mini Libertad / Uruguay : Devoto, Disco / Indian Ocean : Jumbo
Website	mobile.casino.fr, www.groupe-casino.fr

Officially known as Groupe Casino (or Casino Guichard-Perrachon) is a French mass retailer with operations around the world. Led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jean-Charles Naouri, the company is listed on the NYSE Euronext Paris stock exchange and its majority shareholder is Rallye SA.

The company's head office is in Saint-Étienne.

History

• 1892 – Geoffroy Guichard becomes the sole proprietor of a grocery store located in the old Casino Lyrique cabaret in Saint-Étienne, which remains the Group’s flagship store for many years. This is also the origin of the Group’s name.
• 1898 – On 25 June, Geoffroy Guichard opens the first branch store in Veauche and, on 2 August, he sets up Société des Magasins du Casino et Établissements Économiques d'Alimentation, operating under the name "Guichard-Perrachon & Cie". Following the company’s creation, the focus shifts to organisation, with the construction of a warehouse in Saint-Étienne.
• 1901 – The first Casino-brand products are launched and, with them, the private-label concept is invented.
• 1902 – A customer loyalty programme is introduced, offering trading stamps for store purchases.
• 1906 – The first factories are opened in the Loire region to supply Casino stores.
• 1916 – A family allowance fund and profit-sharing system are introduced for employees.
• 1948 – The first self-service store is inaugurated.
• 1950 – France’s first refrigerated display cases are installed in the branch stores.
• 1959 – Casino becomes the first French food retailer to mark its products with a sell-by date, a practice that does not become mandatory in France until 1984.
• 1976 – Casino starts expands into the global market, beginning in the United States.
• 1991 – La Ruche Méridionale is acquired.
• 1992 – Led by Geoffroy Guichard’s grandson Antoine Guichard, Casino merges with Rallye, a French retailer owned by Jean-Charles Naouri.
• 1997 – Following a four-month stock market battle, Jean-Charles Naouri, the Guichard family and the Group’s employees fend off a hostile takeover bid from retailer Promodès.
• 1998 – Through Rallye, Jean-Charles Naouri becomes Casino’s majority shareholder. The pace of growth gains new momentum.
• 2000 – Casino acquires 50% of variety retailer Monoprix as well as discount chains Franprix, Leader Price and Cdiscount.
• 2001 – Banque Casino is founded. The property company Mercialys is set up to manage Casino-owned shopping centres. International expansion continues.
• 2005 – Jean-Charles Naouri is appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Casino and introduces an organisation based on streamlined decision-making processes. He realigns the asset portfolio, while expanding the business in Brazil, Colombia, Thailand and Vietnam.
• 2007 – The Group inaugurates its new headquarters in Saint-Étienne, its historical stronghold.
• 2010 – The Group acquires Carrefour’s interests in Thailand.
• 2010 – The GreenYellow subsidiary connects its first solar power plant to the French power grid.
• June 2012 – The Group acquires Galeries Lafayette’s 50% stake in Monoprix.
• Late June 2012 – Casino acquires a controlling interest in Brazil-based Pão de Açúcar.
• Late November 2012 – Jean-Charles Naouri is appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Monoprix.
• June 2013 - Jean-Charles Naouri appointed special representative for economic relations with Brazil.

Positioning and strategy

With the acquisition of a controlling interest in Grupo Pão de Açúcar in Brazil and the agreement with Galeries Lafayette to acquire 50% of Monoprix, 2012 saw Groupe Casino raise its profile in high-growth markets and in the most promising formats.

Today, the Group has a network of more than 12,000 stores, of which 9,450 are in France. It operates in eight countries, generating net sales of €41.971 billion and employing 318,600 people.

The Group’s transformation is the tangible result of a growth strategy based on a multi-format, multi-banner, multi-channel approach and a dual retailing/property business model.

International markets

International expansion is focused on countries that offer strong potential for profitable growth and in which the Group’s subsidiaries have a solid local presence. Based on these criteria, the priority growth regions are currently South America and Southeast Asia.

In 2012, emerging markets accounted for 56% of consolidated net sales, versus 34% in 2009, and 66% of consolidated trading profit (or €2,002 million), versus 26% in 2009. Casino holds leadership positions in these markets:

• Largest retailer in Latin America
• Largest food and non-food retailer in Brazil
• Largest retailer in Colombia
• Second-largest retailer in Thailand

France

Casino is primarily expanding its multi-format portfolio in the convenience and discount segments. Its business model is built on a network of strategically related, yet clearly differentiated banners – Spar and Vival (urban and rural superettes), Monoprix and Franprix (centre-city stores), Leader Price (discount outlets) and Naturalia (organic foods). With its 6,500 convenience stores, Casino leads this segment in France.

Private labels and innovation

Casino owns three private labels, Monoprix, Leader Price and Casino, the last of which is France’s leading private-label brand based on the percentage of its products in the sales mix. Groupe Casino is also the leading buyer of white label products in France.

E-Commerce

In France, half of all Internet users purchase from Cdiscount, the Groupe Casino subsidiary that, in just a few years, has become the country’s leading online retailer.

On the other hand, Cdiscount recently announced that its e.casino online grocery store would no longer accept non-French credit card payments due to the numerous cases of fraud.

Property as a value driver

A distinctive feature of the Groupe Casino business model is its dual retailing/property approach. Applied both in France and internationally, this expertise is a key value driver for the Group. It is deployed in France through two subsidiaries: Mercialys, a leading listed retail property company and Immobilière Group Casino, which owns the Group’s store properties.

Operations

Casino Géant

In 2012, Casino had more than 12,000 outlets (126 hypermarkets, 446 supermarkets, 2,476 discount stores, 6,457 convenience stores and 299 restaurants) in France and abroad, often through interests held in local retailers. Examples include Libertad and Mini Libertad in Argentina, Disco and Devoto in Uruguay, Big C in Thailand, Big C and C Express in Vietnam, Pão de Açúcar and Extra in Brazil, Exito in Colombia and other outlets in a dozen African countries and the Indian Ocean. The Group’s total business volume excluding VAT amounted to more than €52 billion for the year, while net sales stood at €41.9 billion (of which 37% was generated in France) and the workforce totalled 318,600 employees worldwide.

On 2 July 2012, Casino became the sole controlling shareholder of Grupo Pão de Açúcar, Brazil’s leading retailer and second largest online retailer. Grupo Pão de Açúcar has annual sales of €20.2 billion with a multi-format, multi-brand portfolio of more than 1,600 stores and 159,800 employees, making it the leading private-sector employer in Brazil. The controlling interest acquired in Pão de Açúcar significantly boosted the Group’s size, positioning it among the world's largest retailers.

In mainland France, Casino operates the following brands: Hyper Géant Casino (126 stores) Casino Supermarché (446), Monoprix (555), Franprix and Leader Price (600), Spar, Vival, Petit Casino and Casino Restauration. On Reunion Island, its brands are Géant Casino and Leader Price.

In addition to its physical stores, Casino owns the Cdiscount e-store and online supermarket Coursengo, which sells the Casino, Franprix and Leader Price brands.

In 2005, Casino created Mercialys, a REIT-style listed property company that today manages an asset portfolio comprising some 150 shopping centres that are adjacent to Casino-owned hypermarkets and supermarkets, as well as the Group’s cafeteria properties.

In March 2012, Franprix announced plan to supply its 80 stores in central Paris with 450 tonnes of goods a day via the Marne and Seine Rivers, thereby shortening delivery times and reducing the environmental impact.

Brands

France

Groupe Casino’s brands cover the full range of retail formats:

• Casino Supermarchés, a city-centre and rural supermarket chain
• Monoprix, a city-centre variety chain selling food, personal and beauty care products, household products and apparel
• Franprix, a city convenience store chain
• Superettes:

*Petit Casino *Casino Shop *Casino Shopping *Spar *Vival

• Discount formats:
• Leader Price, which carries both private-label and national brands
• Hypermarkets
• Hyper Géant Casino
• Online stores
• Cdiscount
• Property management
• Mercialys
• Other businesses
• Casino Restauration: Casino Cafétéria, Les Comptoirs Casino, Villa Plancha and À La Bonne Heure
• Banque Casino
• Casino Vacances (travel agency)

• 
  Casino Shopping
• 
  Supermarché Casino
• 
  Monoprix
• 
  Monoprix
• 
  Franprix
• 
  Franprix
• 
  Leader Price

In the world

• Brazil: Grupo Pão de Açúcar – Extra – Pão de Açúcar – Extra Fácil – Assaí – Ponto Frio - Nova Casas Bahia

• 
  extra - Brésil
• 
  Assai - Brésil
• 
  Pão de Açúcar - Brésil
• 
  Pão de Açúcar - Brésil

• Colombia  : Groupe Éxito – Carulla – Surtimax

• 
  Carulla - Colombie
• 
  Éxito - Colombie
• 
  Éxito - Colombie

• Argentina  : Libertad - Mini Libertad
• Uruguay: Devoto – Disco

• 
  Disco - Uruguay
• 
  Libertad - Argentine

• Thailand  : Big C
• Vietnam: Big C

• 
  Supermarché Big C - Vietnâm
• 
  Intérieur Big C - Vietnâm
• 
  Supermaché Big C - Thaïlande

• Indian Ocean  : Jumbo – Score – Spar - Vival

• 
  Score - La Réunion

The Casino Foundation

Created in 2009, the Casino Foundation focuses on sponsoring youth programmes to help prevent social exclusion, in particular by giving as many children as possible the opportunities and resources they need to shape their own lives and overcome social and personal obstacles. It extends assistance mainly to children with limited access to education, because they are from disadvantaged backgrounds or else suffering from an illness, with the aim of supporting their personal and intellectual growth. Through programmes to promote scientific, artistic, literary, musical or technological knowledge, the Foundation is committed to breaking down learning barriers, stimulating talent and facilitating access to all forms of knowledge and culture for young people lacking such exposure.

• The Artistes à l’Ecole programme, organised in partnership with the French Ministry of Education and Odeon Theatre de l’Europe, allows some 2,000 students to enrol in a high-quality three-year arts and culture course designed to nurture their talents and encourage their success.

• The Sourire à l’Hôpital programme, organised in partnership with non-profits that provide child patient care and with the support of Groupe Casino employees, gives hundreds of hospitalized children access to means of communication and educational resources. Since 2010, the Casino Foundation has sponsored the non-profit organisation Docteur Souris, which provides Internet-connected computers to hospitalised children.

• Local initiatives allow Groupe Casino employees to request financial assistance from the Foundation to sponsor the local non-profit of their choice on behalf of hundreds of culturally excluded children in France and around the world.

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• 
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Board of Directors

Jean-Charles Naouri, CEO of Casino Group.

• Jean-Charles Naouri, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
• Didier Carlier, Chief Executive Officer of Rallye, representing Groupe Euris
• Henri Giscard d'Estaing, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Club Méditerranée, independent director
• Gérard Koenigheit, Advisor to Casino, representing Matignon-Diderot
• Lady Sylvia Jay, Chairman of l’Oréal UK & Ireland, independent director
• Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fimalac
• Didier Levêque, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Finatis, representing Foncière Euris
• Catherine Lucet, Chief Executive Officer of the Education and Reference Division of Editis, independent director
• Gilles Pinoncély, corporate director
• Gérald de Roquemaurel, Managing Partner of BGR Partners, independent director
• David de Rothschild, Statutory Managing Partner of Rothschild & Cie Banque
• Frédéric Saint-Geours, member of the Managing Board of Peugeot SA, independent director
• Michel Savard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Foncière Euris, representing Finatis
• Rose-Marie Van Lerberghe, member of the Conseil Supérieur de la Magistrature, senior independent director
• Pierre Giacometti, Chairman of Giacometti Péron & Associés, non-voting director
• Jacques Dumas, Secretary of the Board of Directors, Advisor to the Chairman

Executive Committee

• Jean-Charles Naouri, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
• Yves Brabant, Chief Executive Officer of Big C (Thailand)
• Hervé Daudin, Merchandise and Supply Chain Director, Chairman of the Board of EMCD
• Yves Desjacques, Human Resources Director
• Antoine Giscard d’Estaing, Chief Financial Officer
• Gérard Walter, Managing Director, Casino Hypermarkets
• Jean-Paul Mochet, Managing Director, Franprix
• Tina Schuler, Managing Director, Leader Price
• Carlos Mario Giraldo Moreno, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Exito (Colombia)
• Arnaud Strasser, Corporate Development and Holdings Director
• Julien Lagubeau, Committee Secretary and Strategic Planning Director

Financial highlights

Key figures in € millions

Years	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
Net business volume	36,144	36,842	42,777	50,930	52,342
Net sales	28,704	26,757	29,078	34,361	41,971
Trading profit	1,266	1,209	1,300	1,548	2,002
Equity	7,124	7,037	7,916	9,383	15,201
Debt	4,851	4,072	3,845	5,379	5,451

Net business volume includes all revenue from consolidated companies, associates and franchisees, on a 100% basis.

Share information

• Groupe Casino shares are listed on the NYSE Euronext Paris market (Compartment A)

ISIN: FR0000125585

• Par value: €1.53 per share
• Majority shareholders at end-2012 (voting rights): Free float: 38.6%; Groupe Rallye 59.3%; employees 2.1%.

Share data as at January 1

Années	2011	2012
Share outstanding (in million)	110.6	112.7
Market capitalisation (in € million)	7,200	8,100
Daily trading volume (in thousands of shares)	554	662

External links

• Official website
• http://www.fondation-casino.org