Founded by two former employees of French retailer Auchan, Jean-François Hernu and Guillaume Torck, the first Carré des Halles grocery store is set to open in a few days at the gates of the Lille wholesale market, according to French weekly Fld.
Inspired by American shops such as Whole Foods Market, Carré des Halles embraces the idea of a “freshness market”, something totally new north of Paris.
According to promoters, the shop intends to offer “authentic, tasty and high quality products at the best price”, while favouring products from local producers. The shop will reportedly stock a minimum of 270 lines of fruit and vegetables.
The first outlet is located in one of the region’s best catchment areas, with 15,000-20,000 vehicles passing nearby each day.
