With more than 135,000 retail outlets completely shut down in France for more than 2 months in the spring of 2020, the Distribution sector is going through totally unprecedented times, the consequences of which will undoubtedly be major and long-lasting, impacting all 3.5 million men and women working in that sector in France (10% of French employees), 2 million in retailing alone.
The distribution sector as a whole has suffered lasting effects (leaving aside the short-term carry-over effect which has benefited food distribution during the lockdown).
However, we will not discuss here the very short-term effects on consumption when the lockdown is lifted, nor the very long-term projections, so that we can concentrate more practically on the challenges of this crisis in the medium term, and in doing so we hope to present some ideas on how those working in Distribution in France can move forward.
Not with blissful optimism, but showing that there are real reasons for hope in a Distribution sector that is reconnecting with value creation, by grasping the new rules of the game as they take shape.
