Paris, October 8, 2025 – France’s Autorité de la concurrence has cleared the acquisition by Marcel & Fils of seven Bio&Co organic food retail stores located in south-east France. The approval is conditional on the sale of one store in Salon-de-Provence to a competing operator.
The clearance follows the authority’s review of the transaction involving Marcel & Fils, which operates organic supermarkets in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and Occitania regions, and Roloni, a subsidiary of the Teract group, which owns the Bio&Co stores.
The seven stores being acquired are located in Aix-en-Provence, Bouc-Bel-Air, Lambesc, Marseille, Vallauris, La Valette-du-Var, and Salon-de-Provence.
Competition Concerns in Salon-de-Provence
While the Autorité found no significant risks to competition in most areas examined, it identified potential harm in Salon-de-Provence (Bouches-du-Rhône), where the merger would have significantly reduced the number of independent competitors in the local organic food retail market.
According to the authority, without a divestment, consumers would face fewer alternatives, reduced service levels, and potentially higher prices in the area. To resolve these concerns, Marcel & Fils agreed to sell the Bio&Co store on Chemin des Cardelines in Salon-de-Provence to an independent competitor.
Implementation and Oversight
An independent monitoring trustee will oversee the divestment process. The buyer proposed by Marcel & Fils must be approved by the Autorité, which will verify that the acquirer has adequate financial and operational capacity to sustain long-term competition. The sale must include all necessary assets and staff to ensure the store’s continued viability.
The Autorité said it will closely monitor the implementation of the commitment to safeguard competition and consumer choice in the affected market.
