Laurent Proy has now been in charge at Groupe Alkor since the beginning of 2006, but the Frenchman is showing no signs of slowing down.
For more on Groupe Alkor and Laurent Proy, read the following:
2021
Analysis: Big-box breakup gathers pace
Buyer confirmed for Office Depot France
Exclusive: Key developments in Office Depot France takeover
2019
Background information
2021: Alkor raised eyebrows in 2021 when it brokered a €25 million ($30 million) deal for several of its members to acquire around 50 Office Depot stores in France. It got the nod from OD France’s administrators ahead of an offer from ADVEO, partly due to an ambitious recruitment plan for former Office Depot staff to join members of the Alkor network.
That expansion, plus a strategy to grow in the south of France, prompted Alkor to look at increasing its logistics footprint. In addition to its highly efficient distribution centre in its hometown of St Quentin, Alkor has commissioned a new facility further south in Valence. This 25,000 sq m (250,000 sq ft) location is being outsourced to logistics specialist Blondel and is due to become operational in April 2022, in time to receive orders for the 2022 back-to-school season.
Other projects for 2021 included dividing its Majuscule brand into two distinct divisions to better tailor the customer proposition. Majuscule Enterprises caters to business customers, while Majuscule Education & Loisirs has a school supplies and hobby/craft focus. The iOBURO retail franchise concept established in 2019 also continues to grow, nearing 20 outlets in 2021.
2019: End-user sales from Groupe Alkor’s 130 members are around €450 million ($505 million), while Alkor’s own revenue is approximately €170 million, with both numbers growing organically despite the challenging industry conditions. This is partly due to product diversification into areas such as jan/san, safety and packaging, and also to a market-leading presence in the stable French school supplies market.
With the departure of the group’s largest member Lacoste – following its merger with Intropa dealer DactylBuro – set to come into effect at the end of this year, Alkor is looking at revamping its network in the south of France, and this could include opening a distribution centre in the region. Other strategic decisions on Proy’s plate include possible expansion of the Majuscule brand into French-speaking North Africa.
For more information on Laurent Proy and Alkor Groupe, see OPI Big Interview July/August 2019.
2018: This year marks the 60th anniversary of French independent reseller cooperative Groupe Alkor which began life in 1958 under the name SCOOL (Société Coopérative des Librairies) before rebranding to Majuscule in the 1970s.
The Alkor umbrella name was introduced in 2016 following the creation of the Burolike B2B brand alongside the traditional Majuscule banner. In addition, the group has recently confirmed the introduction of a third brand, IOBuro, a retail concept based on smaller-format, 400-500 sq m (4,000-5,000 sq ft) stores aimed at consumers and small businesses. Managing Director Laurent Proy says the goal is to open around 15 IOBuro outlets by the end of 2019.
Other projects include the launch of an Alkor e-shop, further improvements to IT systems and the group’s main distribution centre, and a strengthening of the commercial presence in the south of France.
2017: In what are difficult market conditions in France, cooperative group Alkor is set to end 2017 with top-line growth of approximately 3.5-4%, taking its annual sales to around €165 million ($195 million).
While the number of members between Alkor’s Majuscule and Burolike brands has remained stable at 130, Managing Director Laurent Proy says this actually points to underlying growth after taking into account M&A activity within the group.
An interesting development this year was the start of a new national contract with France’s Ministry of Defence (MoD). In order to bid for and then service this four-year contract, Alkor members established a separate entity (known as a ‘groupement economique solidaire’ in France). This enables national distribution coverage, with regional members servicing the various MoD locations throughout France.
After completing a major logistics project about 18 months ago, Alkor is now half way into a strategic IT development project that will revamp its digital capabilities, both internally and with end users.
Also on the agenda is a new business unit – the name of which has not yet been revealed – that will focus on the retail channel. While there are both Majuscule and Burolike members that have stores, Proy says the new retail arm – which should be launched in 2018 – will complement the existing network.
2016: Laurent Proy began the year at the helm of a new entity called Groupe Alkor following the rebranding of the Majuscule dealer group. Deriving its name from the star Alcor, the group is now the umbrella organisation for the cooperative that comprises the Majuscule and Burolike reseller brands, which between them have around 150 members.
Proy says the name change was made to provide a clear distinction between Alkor’s two banners. It also facilitates moves into other areas, such as offering general wholesaling services to non-members, something high on the Proy’s agenda.
Proy regards supply chain excellence as a key factor in Alkor’s long-term success and major investments have been made in upgrading the group’s main 36,000 sq m
(360,000 sq ft) distribution centre in St Quentin, France. Recent improvements include 30 new picking stations and six state-of-the-art packing machines.
To offset the soft market conditions for traditional office supplies, BPGI member Alkor has been expanding into the education and school supplies sector for a number of years and is now a major supplier to local school authorities. In fact, about 45% of all orders are school related and Proy estimates that the group has a share of around 30% in the infant and primary school market. New for 2016 is a catalogue featuring both educational and outdoor games.
Other notable growth areas include facilities supplies, craft products and seasonal items.
2015: Laurent Proy began 2-16 at the head of a new group with Majuscule rebranding to Groupe Alkor as the umbrella name for the cooperative that comprises the Majuscule and Burolike reseller brands.
The name change was made to provide a clear distinction between Alkor’s two banners and it also facilitates moves into other areas such as offering general wholesaling services to non-members, something high on Proy’s agenda.
Proy regards supply chain excellence as a key factor in Alkor’s long-term success and major investments have been made in upgrading the group’s main distribution centre in St Quentin, France. Recent improvements include 30 new picking stations and six state-of-the-art packing machines.
