Groupe Auchan
Auchan Portugal is the Portuguese retail business of the Auchan Group, operating hypermarkets, supermarkets, private-label products and related retail services.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Auchan Portugal is the Portuguese retail operation of the French Auchan Group. It was established in 1970 under the Companhia Portuguesa de Hipermercados name, when the first Pão de Açúcar supermarket opened in Lisbon. The business subsequently developed a large-format retail model in Portugal, opening its first Jumbo hypermarket in Cascais in 1973. Pão de Açúcar and Jumbo became the principal consumer-facing banners associated with the company before the business increasingly adopted the Auchan identity. The company’s development followed the broader expansion of modern grocery retail in Portugal. During the 1980s it introduced its own-brand product concept and opened a second Jumbo hypermarket in Amoreiras in 1985. In 1988, its Alfragide hypermarket became the first hypermarket in Portugal to use barcode reading, marking an important operational and technological step for the chain. During the 1990s the retailer expanded its hypermarket presence to a number of Portuguese cities, including Maia, Castelo Branco, Setúbal, Alverca, Santo Tirso, Gaia, Famalicão and Aveiro. Beyond store expansion, the company developed customer, employee and community initiatives. It created the Pão de Açúcar Foundation in 1993 to support employees and introduced the Jumbo Mais store credit card in 1994. In 1996 it established the Rik & Rok children's club, known in Portugal as Rik & Rok, and was acquired by the Auchan Group later that year. This acquisition integrated the Portuguese operation into Auchan’s international retail network while preserving several established local banners and commercial formats for a period. During the 2000s and 2010s, the company continued opening hypermarkets and supermarkets across Portugal. Its network grew through new sites in places including Faro, Figueira da Foz, Almada, Gondomar, Vila Real, Coimbra, Viseu, Torres Vedras, Santarém, Matosinhos, Amadora, Guimarães, Coina and Portimão. It also operated or expanded Pão de Açúcar supermarkets in locations such as Guarda, Faro, Caldas da Rainha, Eiras, Lagoa, Olhão, Canidelo and Campera. Some locations were acquired from the Sonae group in connection with Carrefour’s departure from the Portuguese market. The business has also used its retail platform to develop private-label ranges, child-oriented customer engagement, accessibility features and sustainability initiatives. Its own-brand products and Rik & Rok materials were at one point adapted with Braille designations. The company launched a humanitarian project in Portugal and introduced the Vida Auchan range, associated with more sustainable agriculture. It also created Immochan Portugal to manage shopping centres and commercial galleries connected with the group’s property activities. Today, the Portuguese business is generally identified as Auchan Portugal or Auchan Retail Portugal. Its activities remain centred on food and general merchandise retail through large-format stores and supermarkets, supported by private-label products, customer services and community or sustainability programmes. The historical Pão de Açúcar and Jumbo names remain important to the company’s Portuguese retail heritage, while Auchan serves as the principal contemporary corporate and consumer identity.
History
Auchan began on 6 July 1961, when Gérard Mulliez opened a 600-square-metre store in a disused Phildar factory in Roubaix, northern France. Mulliez had studied the emerging supermarket sector and sought advice from Édouard Leclerc before launching the business. The store was located in the Hauts-Champs district, a name that inspired the company’s branding. The initial name considered for the business was “Ochan,” but it was changed to “Auchan”; the first letter was also useful for appearing near the beginning of directories. The first store established the core Auchan proposition: a broad selection of food and non-food products, competitive prices and a self-service format designed for growing suburban consumption. The original Roubaix location ultimately faced strong competition and closed in the 1980s, but the company used the experience to refine a much larger retail model. On 20 August 1967, Auchan opened its first hypermarket in Roncq, initially covering about 3,500 square metres. Gérard Mulliez later described the site as a model for the group’s approach to combining food retail with a substantial non-food offer. On 27 March 1969, the company opened the Englos-les-Géants commercial center near Lille. The project combined a hypermarket with a broader retail park and became an early example of the French commercial-center format that would influence Auchan’s expansion. During the following decades, Auchan built a national network of hypermarkets and developed associated shopping galleries, parking, fuel stations and service businesses. The large-store format allowed the company to offer an unusually wide range of merchandise, from groceries and fresh food to clothing, appliances, electronics and home equipment. Internationalization became a major part of the group’s development. Auchan entered the United States in 1988 and Italy in 1989, later expanding into markets including Mexico, Thailand, Argentina, Russia, China, Taiwan, Vietnam and several Central and Eastern European countries. Some ventures were unsuccessful. The group sold its Thai hypermarkets to Groupe Casino in 2002, withdrew from Mexico in the early 2000s, sold its Argentine stores to Wal-Mart in 2007, left Dubai in 2011 and exited Italy after sustained losses, with most Italian activities transferred to Conad. Auchan also withdrew from Vietnam and sold its Chinese interests to Alibaba in 2020; its Taiwan business ended in 2021. Russia became one of Auchan’s largest foreign markets after entry in 2002. The business expanded to more than 200 stores and became an important contributor to the wider group. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Auchan decided to continue operating in Russia, unlike some other Western retailers that exited or sold their businesses. Auchan said it was preserving food access and protecting employees and customers. In 2023, the Russian operation was described as functioning independently from the parent company, with the parent stopping new investment and financing. The decision nevertheless became a major reputational and political controversy after investigations alleged that the Russian subsidiary helped collect or distribute goods that supported Russian military mobilization. Ukraine’s anti-corruption agency listed Auchan as an international sponsor of war in February 2023. Auchan’s Portuguese business developed through the Jumbo and Pão de Açúcar brands. The group later consolidated its Portuguese store identity under the Auchan name, ending the Jumbo branding in 2019 and converting Pão de Açúcar supermarkets to Auchan Supermercado. In 2024, Auchan completed the purchase of Dia Group’s Portuguese operations, including the Minipreço and Mais Perto network. The acquisition materially increased the company’s presence in proximity retail and franchising, taking the reported Portuguese physical-store total to 583. The company has also expanded in Africa. It entered Senegal in 2014 under the Atac name and subsequently rebranded stores as Auchan. Its modern supermarkets and neighborhood outlets appealed to urban consumers seeking alternatives to traditional markets, but the expansion also generated opposition from small merchants and groups concerned about economic dependence on French companies. The “Auchan dégage” movement emerged in 2018, and Senegalese authorities temporarily halted new openings while large-scale retail regulations were considered. In recent years, Auchan has been adapting to the weakening economics of the traditional hypermarket. Its stated transformation agenda emphasizes price competitiveness, smaller and more flexible formats, franchise growth, assortment simplification, digital commerce, strategic-market consolidation and operational efficiency. Guillaume Darrasse became chief executive of Auchan Retail in 2024, and Fabien Derville became chairman in 2025. The group remains controlled by the Mulliez family through the Association Familiale Mulliez and operates within ELO Group, alongside property and financial-services businesses.
- 2025
Fabien Derville becomes chairman
[5]Fabien Derville was appointed chairman of Auchan Retail, with the new governance intended to strengthen the relationship between the Mulliez family shareholder and operating management.
- 2024
Dia Portugal acquisition completed
[2]Auchan completed the acquisition of Dia Group’s Portuguese operations, increasing the Portuguese network to 583 physical stores and strengthening proximity and franchising capabilities.
- 2024
Guillaume Darrasse becomes chief executive
[4]Auchan established a chairman–chief executive structure by appointing Guillaume Darrasse as chief executive of Auchan Retail.
- 2023
Auchan added to Ukraine’s International Sponsors of War list
[7]Ukraine’s National Agency on Corruption Prevention listed Auchan over allegations concerning its Russian subsidiary’s support for military mobilization and the war effort.
- 2022
Russian operations retained after invasion of Ukraine
[1]Auchan continued its Russian retail activity after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a decision that generated extensive political and reputational criticism.
- 2020
Exit from China
[1]Auchan sold its interests in China to Alibaba, ending its direct Chinese retail presence through Sun Art.
- 2019
Portuguese stores unified under Auchan branding
[1]The Jumbo name was retired in Portugal and the group moved toward a single Auchan brand, while Pão de Açúcar stores became Auchan Supermercado.
- 2007
Argentina business sold to Wal-Mart
[1]Auchan exited Argentina by selling its stores to Wal-Mart.
- 2002
Entry into Russia
[1]Auchan began operating in Russia, eventually building one of its largest international retail networks.
- 2002
Thailand business sold to Groupe Casino
[1]Auchan withdrew from Thailand by selling its hypermarkets to Groupe Casino.
Products and positioning
Mass-market retailer emphasizing broad assortment, competitive pricing, fresh food, private-label value and increasingly localized convenience and franchise formats.
Hypermarket retail · 1967
Auchan hypermarkets
Large-format stores combining extensive grocery ranges with non-food departments. Typical assortments include fresh food, packaged groceries, household products, clothing, electronics, appliances, home equipment, seasonal goods and fuel-related services. Hypermarkets remain the format most closely associated with Auchan’s historic identity, although the company has been adapting store size, assortment and operating models in response to changing shopping habits and discount competition.
Supermarket retail
Auchan supermarkets
Mid-sized food stores designed for regular grocery shopping and neighborhood or regional coverage. They generally provide fresh food, packaged groceries, beverages, household supplies, personal-care products and selected non-food categories. In Portugal, the former Pão de Açúcar identity was consolidated into Auchan Supermercado, while other countries use locally adapted supermarket formats.
Convenience retail
MyAuchan
Neighborhood-oriented convenience stores intended to serve top-up shopping and everyday food needs closer to residential areas. The format is particularly relevant to Auchan’s strategy of expanding beyond large hypermarkets and, following the Dia Portugal acquisition, to integrating proximity stores and franchise operations into the group’s portfolio.
Digital grocery and click-and-collect
Auchan Drive
A click-and-collect grocery service that allows customers to order food and household products digitally and collect purchases at designated drive-through locations. The model extends the hypermarket network into e-commerce while retaining Auchan’s store-based supply and fulfillment infrastructure.
E-commerce
Auchan online grocery delivery
Digital grocery services supporting home delivery and, in selected markets, online ordering linked to stores or dedicated fulfillment facilities. Availability and operating models vary by country, reflecting local logistics, market maturity and partnerships with delivery platforms.
Private-label consumer goods
Auchan private-label products
Retailer-owned food and everyday-goods ranges sold across Auchan stores. Private labels support the group’s value-for-money positioning and give it greater control over assortment, pricing, packaging and product differentiation. Categories include groceries, fresh products, household supplies, personal care and other routine consumer needs.
Spanish retail brand · 1981
Alcampo
The brand used by Auchan’s Spanish retail operations. Alcampo operates hypermarkets, supermarkets and convenience formats, giving the group a locally established identity rather than applying the Auchan name directly across the Spanish market.
Russian-language retail brand · 2002
Aшан
The Cyrillic-facing identity used for Auchan operations in Russia and, historically or currently, other Russian-speaking markets such as Ukraine and Tajikistan. The format includes hypermarkets and supermarkets and became central to the group’s international expansion in Eastern Europe.
Controversies
2023
Ukraine designates Auchan an international sponsor of war
Ukraine’s National Agency on Corruption Prevention placed Auchan on its International Sponsors of War list, alleging that the Russian subsidiary contributed goods and support connected with military mobilization and the Russian war effort. Investigations cited collections and supplies presented as humanitarian assistance but allegedly directed toward military personnel. Auchan disputed the allegations and stated that its Russian business operated independently and complied with applicable sanctions.
2023
Investigations into Auchan Russia’s alleged military support
Le Monde and investigative partners reported that Auchan Russia helped organize or provide collections of food, clothing, cigarettes and other goods that allegedly benefited Russian forces. The reporting intensified criticism of the parent group’s decision to remain in Russia after the invasion of Ukraine. Auchan maintained that its stated humanitarian activities were intended for civilians and rejected the broader interpretation of the evidence.
2018
Auchan dégage movement in Senegal
The “Auchan dégage,” or “Leave Auchan,” movement emerged in Senegal in opposition to the expansion of the French retailer. Supporters argued that rapid large-scale retail growth threatened traditional markets, small merchants, local economic sovereignty and domestic food systems. The movement contributed to political pressure for tighter regulation of large-scale retail openings.
Brand decisions
2024
Acquire Dia Group’s Portuguese operationsM&ABackground
Auchan sought to strengthen its presence in Portugal’s proximity-retail and franchise segments while complementing its established hypermarket and supermarket network.
Action taken
Auchan Portugal acquired 100% of Dia Group’s Portuguese operations, including the Minipreço and Mais Perto networks, subject to competition-authority clearance.
Aftermath
The completed transaction increased Auchan Portugal’s reported physical-store count from 100 to 583 and added fuel stations, logistics facilities and a digital store. It also created a larger platform for franchising and neighborhood retail.
2024
Reposition Auchan around six transformation prioritiesStrategyBackground
The group faced pressure from inflation, discount retailers, online grocery and the structural challenges of the traditional hypermarket format.
Action taken
Management prioritized stronger positions in selected strategic markets, more competitive pricing, adaptation of hypermarkets, optimization of the product offer, expansion of franchising and improved operating efficiency.
Aftermath
The priorities became the framework for Auchan’s operational transformation and were paired with a new chairman–chief executive structure led operationally by Guillaume Darrasse.
2023
Separate Russian operations from parent-company investment and financingStrategyBackground
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting sanctions and reputational pressure, Auchan faced calls to leave the Russian market.
Action taken
Auchan Retail stopped investment and financing activities for the Russian subsidiary and allowed the Russian business to operate with increased autonomy, while continuing to serve the market.
Aftermath
The Russian operation continued trading, but the arrangement did not end political criticism or allegations concerning its support for Russian mobilization. Reports in 2025 said the Russian subsidiary remained active and denied that it was preparing to sell the business.
2020
Sell Chinese retail interests to AlibabaM&ABackground
Auchan’s Chinese operations were conducted through Sun Art Retail Group, in which Alibaba had become a major shareholder. The Chinese market required substantial scale and digital adaptation, while Auchan was reshaping its international portfolio.
Action taken
Auchan sold its remaining interests in the Chinese business to Alibaba and exited China.
Aftermath
The transaction ended Auchan’s direct Chinese retail presence and represented another withdrawal from a strategically important but difficult international market.
2019
Unify Portuguese store branding under AuchanStrategyBackground
Auchan operated in Portugal through legacy Jumbo and Pão de Açúcar identities, creating a multi-brand structure within a single national business.
Action taken
The group retired the Jumbo identity and transitioned stores toward Auchan branding; Pão de Açúcar supermarkets were renamed Auchan Supermercado.
Aftermath
The move created a more consistent customer-facing identity and simplified the Portuguese brand architecture before the later Dia Portugal acquisition.
2019
Exit the Italian marketStrategyBackground
Auchan’s Italian operations had experienced financial losses and faced strong competition in a fragmented retail market.
Action taken
Auchan sold most of its Italian activities to Conad and withdrew from the country.
Aftermath
The withdrawal reduced the group’s international footprint and underscored the limits of the hypermarket model in some mature markets.
Recent events
Everli and Auchan expand grocery delivery partnership in Poland[11]
Reported:
Everli and Auchan Retail Poland announced a home grocery delivery partnership expansion in Poland. From November 19, 2021, 73 Auchan stores could offer online groceries delivered the same day by Everli.
Auchan stores in China to be renamed RT-Mart[12]
Reported:
RT-Mart said the 69 Auchan stores in China would be renamed RT-Mart, with the conversion expected to be completed in the second half of 2021.
Auchan announces Drive service in 31 Romanian hypermarkets[13]
Auchan announced the implementation of its Drive service in 31 Romanian hypermarkets, allowing customers to collect online orders from the parking lot of the nearest Auchan hypermarket.
Sources13 sources
- 1Auchanen.wikipedia.org
- 2Auchan Portugal completes Dia Group acquisitionauchan-retail.pt
- 3Portugal Competition Authority decision on Auchan / DIAconcorrencia.pt
- 4Guillaume Darrasse appointed Chief Executive Officer of Auchan Retailgroupe-elo.com
- 5Fabien Derville appointed chairman of Auchan Retailgroupe-elo.com
- 6ELO Group 2024 financial reportgroupe-elo.com
- 7Ukraine’s NACP places Auchan on International Sponsors of War listnazk.gov.ua
- 8Le Monde investigation into Auchan Russialemonde.fr
- 9Auchan Russia denies sale rumorsrte.ie
- 10Separate Russian operations from parent-company investment and financingcdn.financialreports.eu
- 11Everli与Auchan扩大在波兰的杂货配送合作prnewswire.com
- 12欧尚中国门店将更名为大润发finance.sina.com.cn
- 13欧尚宣布在罗马尼亚31家大型超市推出Drive服务zfenglish.com
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