Toulouse. Dark store: the trend of “ghost” supermarkets arrives in the Pink City
By Anthony Assemat
Published on
The shopping delivery sector has gradually invaded city centers. After the proliferation of drives from major brands (Leclerc Drive, Auchan Drive, Chronodrive, etc.) on the outskirts in recent years, then the emergence of two behemoths of meal delivery, Deliveroo and Uber Eats, the Pink City has seen the arrival , in recent weeks, of the latest trend in the sector: the delivery of courses in supermarkets… without customers. Having the operation of a store but closed to the public.
A well-established phenomenon in Paris
Son name: dark storeas a symbol of these warehouses only intended for online sale but little on the aesthetics of the facade, without the finishes and with the pallets on the floor… The phenomenon is well established in Paristhe capital, which would have around 70 of these new kind of “stores”.
The first dark store in Toulouse is in Saint-Cyprien
In Toulouse, the first dark store landed in May 2021 on the Charles-de-Fitte alleys, in Saint-Cyprien, right between the Peugeot dealership and the imposing Left Bank clinic. It is the Cajoo brand which got the ball rolling in the Pink City with a 700 m warehouse2. “Our deliveries are made by bicycle, scooter or scooter. And all our equipment is electric,” Cajoo told Toulouse News.
Currently, Cajoo employed 31 people on permanent contracts, as well as 30 temporary workers.
The promise to deliver in less than 15 minutes
Cajoo has settled in eight cities in France: Paris, Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), Lyon (Rhône), Bordeaux (Gironde), Lille (North), Nantes (Loire-Atlantique), Montpellier (Hérault) and Toulouse, therefore. The company, which offers 2,200 product references, promises course delivery in less than 15 minutes. “Faster than Airbus”, is it even indicated on their site… A requirement which raises fears of great competition for convenience stores and local shops. Because the scope of delivery is limited. Around Saint-Cyprien, Cajoo delivers to the border with Purpan to the west, Les Minimes to the north, Guilhemery-Côte pavée to the east, and Bagatelle-île du Ramier to the south.
“No fear for traditional trade”, according to the town hall
For the moment, orders are always full and the ultra-fast delivery of courses seems to have already found its clientele. Therefore, should we fear a multiplication of these dark stores? And this, to the detriment of small businesses? ” We are still behind compared to Paris and Lyon. But there is no need to fear for the traditional trade. In any case, we are observing the phenomenon and we will be vigilant”, explains to Toulouse News Olivier Arsac, Deputy Mayor of Toulouse in charge of Trade and Crafts.
After dark kitchens
The chosen one speaks knowingly. A few months ago, inhabitants of the Chalets had presented themselves against the arrival of a dark kitchen in this district of the city center, avenue Honoré Serres, petition in the key. No less than eight “ghost kitchens”, still without customers and based on the delivery model, are due to open on Monday, April 18, 2022. This is the Popafood companyheaded by Toulouse residents Eric Descargues and Florent Garin, who will manage the premises.
let’s remember that the first dark kitchen in the Pink City opened in December 2020, avenue Camille Pujol. It is Foodiewhich has the particularity of having seen the entry into the capital of three personalities from Toulouse: the singers Big Flo&Oli and the former president of the TFC Olivier Sadran, boss of Newrest.
“No fear of seeing Toulouse colonized”
Dark shops respond to a social and consumer need. “Click and collect was widely practiced during the confinements and people want to go quickly. It’s an observation, ”says Olivier Arsac. Nevertheless, the Toulouse elected official does not believe in the multiplication of these supermarkets without customers like mushrooms.
“I have no strong fear of seeing Toulouse colonized by the phenomenon. There will probably be some, but not in a massive way. Firstly because Toulouse does not have the same density as Paris or Lyon. Toulouse is protected By its low density. Then, the economic model is still fragile, we have to see how the sector will evaluate. Economic life will adapt”.
Dark shops are not welcome at La Colombette!
If the town hall is not the main one on the free commercial installation, certain districts are already used not to welcome these “ghost” supermarkets.
This is the case of the atypical district of La Colombette, constituted as a Free Commune. François Scheerens is part of the association of merchants in the district. He is at the forefront of the fight against this new trend of dark stores. “I’ve been alerting the town hall for several months to this phenomenon. We don’t want it at La Colombette, it denigrates small local shops. In addition, it’s visually ugly and it causes nuisance”, he complains. he with Actu Toulouse. For him, with the arrival of Cajoo and Gopuff type brands, “we have passed the observation stage in Toulouse”, he believes.
His solution: “You have to educate the consumer and make them a consumer”. One thing is certain: it is the consumer who decides the economic future of these dark stores.
Olivier Arsac specifies that “no complaints from local residents” have been brought to his attention because of potential nuisances generated by the traffic of delivery people. On this point, all means of delivery are parked indoors, probably limiting noise. “The premises are not large, quite discreet, the sidewalks are wide enough and the street is busy. Similarly, there are few accommodations nearby, ”wants to reassure the trade assistant at the Capitol.
Toulouse has not yet registered the arrival of a multitude of operators. Companies like Gorillas we Blink are for example of competitors runs from Cajoo to Bordeaux and Lyonbut they have not yet opened an antenna in the 4and City of France.
“Do we need pasta delivered in 10 minutes at 11 p.m.? »
In Lyon, the municipality, led by ecologist Grégory Doucet, has decided to declare war on dark stores. Among the arguments put forward in the face of the “threat” of these supermarkets: working conditions, the threat to local shops and the growing increase in bicycles and scooters on the streets. “A dark store is a warehouse that promises delivery in 10, 15 minutes. This has the effect of imposing a very strong pace, pressure on the teams, to time. It is dehumanized work. Then the deliverers will have to pedal as quickly as possible. For the deliverers, these are risks taken for a fast delivery. It is a danger for the highway code, there can be accidents. Do we need pasta delivered in 10 minutes at 11 p.m.? Do we need to shop behind our screen? “, reacted Camille Augey, assistant in charge of employment and the sustainable economy at the town hall of Lyon, to our colleagues fromNews Lyon end of February 2022.
The government sensitized on the subject
The desire to supervise the sector, the installation of new warehouses and their practices is common to several large cities, such as Lille. In Toulouse, Olivier Arsac refutes the idea of brandishing the threat of a ban – “I don’t believe it and we couldn’t” – but suggests a way: “Check the installation and the type of room. This type of trade must have the destination of local-warehouse. With France Urbaine, we questioned the government on this subject, ”continues the former security assistant.
In Lille, the town hall is looking for solutions and the right parade to supervise and limit the installation of these dark stores. A way out that could pass, good, by law. Appointment is made with the next government.
A second dark store has opened in the north of the city
Cajoo is not the only player from the conquest of Toulouse in the field of ultra-fast grocery delivery. To the north of the Pink City, at the end of the boulevard de Suisse on the Ponts-Jumeaux side (at number 17), the American Gopuff has moved into a former town hall storage room since the beginning of March 2022. The company, which specializes in the sector of “fast trade”, indicates a delivery time of 10 to 30 minutes.
Info: gopuff.com.
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