Casino des Allées de Béziers: what is the status of the pre-emption procedure initiated by the City ?

L'avenir du petit Casino des Allées reste en suspens. Midi Libre

Nearly a year ago, the City of Béziers began a pre-emption procedure for the business of the small Casino located on the Allées; the brand having announced that it intended to sell it to Intermarché… Today, while the Casino group, facing great difficulties, is selling off a large number of points of sale at the national level, what is the situation ?  

The hearing was scheduled to take place on September 25. It was postponed to December 11, before the expropriation judge, at the request of the Casino company. According to our information, Casino had not provided within the time limit the elements allowing the courts to set a price for the business assets of its store located on the Allées, in Béziers. This is part of the pre-emption procedure launched by the town hall almost a year ago. 

As a reminder, in the fall of 2023, the Casino group had announced its intention to sell the business to its competitor Intermarché, which was considering installing a Netto discount store there. Which was not to the taste of Mayor Robert Ménard. "We met with the two groups because we want quality business on the Allées", he explained at the city council meeting. The latter pleaded for the return of Monoprix.

Saving time

While discussions and negotiations continue behind the scenes, the pre-emption procedure currently underway allows the City to gain time to try to achieve its goals. “We didn't hesitate to keep Galeries Lafayette on the Allées. Here, it's the same, it's the same approach. We are not pre-empting to become the owner of a large surface area, but to show that in the balance of power, we will not let ourselves be pushed around", the chief magistrate had explained in council. If the choice of Robert Ménard had been judged "contemptuous" by an elected official of the opposition towards Netto's clientele, it also had a budgetary consequence since Viaterra (concessionaire for urban renewal in the city center) should in principle deposit 15% of the estimated price.

While the Casino group is facing significant financial difficulties and is selling off many points of sale in France, there is no doubt that the process should accelerate in the coming weeks. 

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