Castorama

Castorama is the name of an originally from France hypermarket chain based in Temple of Mars, Nord. She is currently (as of 2011) in France, Poland and Russia present. In recent years, it was also found in Germany and Italy. Meanwhile, these chain B & Q, a subsidiary of the British retail group Kingfisher is fused.

History

Christian Dubois founded on 13 June 1969, the company Castorama. On the same day the first store was opened in Englos near the city of Lille. Only in 1971 the name was registered as the official brand name in the commercial register. In 1988 the company began to expand internationally; first in Italy, then later in Germany, Poland and Russia. The merger with the British DIY chain B & Q, a subsidiary of the British retail group Kingfisher, reached 57.9 % in 1998, so that even then Kingfisher had control of the company. This was completed in 2002 with 100 % of the shares. At the same difference at this time Christian Dubois, now joins the Supervisory Board, out of the company altogether.

The Founder

Christian Dubois was born in November 1921. In the 1950s, he launched several trading companies in the construction and especially do-it- yourself sector. Finally, he founded on June 13, 1969 " Castorama " Englos and left three years later to register the company name as a brand name. He led the company in the mid -1980s, the market leader in France. With 71 years, in 1992, he joined the Bureau of the company to the Supervisory Board. Ten years later, in 2002, he left the company completely, simultaneously with the acquisition of 100 % of the company by Kingfisher. He died on 20 January 2005 at the age of 83 years.

Castorama in Germany

In 1990, Castorama was founded in Germany in 1992, the first store was opened. In April 2002, the name was changed into Castorama Casto depot in Germany. All six DIY stores were rebuilt from the ground up. The aim was to use as little resources to make the company more profitable, but did not succeed. On 31 July 2003, the blow came for all Casto Depot markets in Germany. Affected the locations in Castrop -Rauxel, Kamen, Wildau near Berlin, Koblenz, Chemnitz and Kassel. The owner Kingfisher had decided in December 2002 that Casto Depot will withdraw from the German area. It was elaborated a social plan and terminated all employees. Of these, approximately 350 employees of six DIY stores and about 40 employees at the headquarters in Unterliederbach were affected am Taunus.

Castorama in France

France is the country where the chain has its roots, because there is the first store opened in 1969. According to information, the markets now have an average age of 34.9 years. In 101 stores, a turnover of 2.3 billion Euros is achieved. In France, 13,074 people are employed, of which 53 % in the sale (as of 30 November 2008).

Castorama in Italy

Castorama was present in Italy since 1988. In 2008, however, the British Kingfisher plc has separated from her Italian daughter Castorama. It was to the Italian Groupe Adeo S. A. for 440 million Brit. Pounds (560 million euros ) were sold, this sum still contains a performance-based component. At the time of the sale it was about 31 branches and 2,200 staff employed.

Castorama Poland

Castorama has established in 1994 its Polish branch. Three years later - in 1997 - the first store was opened in Warsaw. In the following years, other markets still were opened. In 2006, the new brand " Brico Depot" was lifted from the baptism.

According to information are the Castorama and Brico Depot markets the market leader in Poland. Both chains together have 56 stores, including 50 with the brand name " Castorama " and 6 under the name " Brico Depot". In it are 10,000 people employed (as of January 2011).

On the Polish website although there is an overview of the products, but the prices will be given. According to statements of Castorama prices are of minor importance, as there is a low price guarantee anyway. There is also no possibility of ordering online in the traditional sense; who wants to order something from home, you must choose a branch and call them or send an e -mail. Under this contact, the price will be quoted and placed the order.

Castorama in Russia

Since 2004, the brand " Castorama " in Russia. The first stores opened in 2006 in Samara and St. Petersburg. This was followed by another market in St. Petersburg and the markets in Moscow and Rostov -na- Donu (2007); Omsk and Krasnodar ( 2008); and Togliatti, Voronezh, Krasnodar, Moscow, and Nizhny Novgorod ( 2009). The newest stores are in Perm and Ufa ( since 2010). Castorama employs 2,300 employees in Russia (January 2011).

Sponsoring

From 1990 to 1995 Castorama was sponsor of a cycling team. The data are as follows: