Elise Denjean with AFP 06:08, March 22, 2022
While one of the Leroy Merlin stores was bombed in Ukraine, its Ukrainian employees are demanding that the company leave Russia.
They put together a petition that received over 10,000 signatures in just over 24 hours.
An employee speaking on condition of anonymity explained to AFP that this petition had been carried out on behalf of a "large part of the Ukrainian employees" of the group.
The pressure is mounting on Leroy Merlin.
Employees of the Ukrainian branch of the company on Monday asked the French brand specializing in DIY, as well as the other brands of the Mulliez family association (AFM) present in Russia, Auchan and Decathlon, to stop there. their activities, while a Leroy Merlin store was bombed on Sunday evening in kyiv.
"Deprive the aggressor of financing the Russian offensive"
The official Instagram account of Leroy Merlin in Ukraine "leroymerlin.ua" on Monday posted a photo of the bombed store in kyiv on Sunday evening with the words "stop sales in Russia" and a link to an online petition on the site "openpetition. eu" asking Adeo, the holding company of Leroy Merlin, to cease its activities in Russia.
The brand is, like Auchan and Decathlon, controlled by the Mulliez family.
The Retroville shopping center in northwestern Kyiv was bombed overnight from Sunday to Monday, killing at least eight people, according to Ukraine's General Prosecutor's Office, as Russian forces still attempt to encircle The capital of the country.
"We vigorously ask Adeo and AFM to cease their activities in Russia, which will deprive the aggressor of the opportunity to finance" the Russian offensive in Ukraine, further indicates this petition, signed "Leroy Merlin Ukraine" and which had collected just over 5,500 signatures on Monday at midday.
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Leroy Merlin strongly established in Russia
An employee speaking on condition of anonymity explained to AFP that this petition had been carried out on behalf of a "large part of the Ukrainian employees" of the group.
Solicited by AFP Monday mid-morning, the communication of Adeo and Leroy Merlin had not reacted at midday.
Not very talkative in general, the French brand specializing in DIY had previously declined any request for comment on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Leroy Merlin has a strong presence in Russia, generating more than 18% of its global business there.
Other brands of the Mulliez Family Association, Auchan and to a lesser extent Decathlon are also present in Russia.
Auchan operates 231 stores in Russia, for a turnover of 3.2 billion euros, or more than 10% of its overall activity.