Leroy Merlin

{{Infobox company

| name = Leroy Merlin

| logo = Leroy Merlin.svg

| type = Subsidiary

| genre =

| foundation = {{start date and age|df=yes|1923}}

| founder = Adolphe Leroy & Rose Merlin

| location_city = Lille, France

| location_country =

| location =

| locations =

| area_served = France, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Ukraine, China, Brazil, South Africa

| key_people =

| industry = Retail

| products = Do it yourself
Home improvement
Garden Supplies

| services =

| revenue =

| operating_income =

| net_income =

| assets =

| equity =

| owner = Groupe Mulliez (84 %)
Employees (16 %)

| num_employees =

| parent = Groupe Adeo

| divisions =

| subsid =

| homepage = [http://www.leroymerlin.com/ Leroy Merlin]

| footnotes =

}}

Leroy Merlin ({{IPA|fr|ləʁwa mɛʁlɛ̃|lang}}) is a French-headquartered home improvement and gardening retailer serving several countries in Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa. Leroy Merlin is owned by the Mulliez family, which also owns Auchan.

History

File:Leroymerlinkalisz.jpg, Poland]]

File:Leroy Merlin map.svg

In 1923, Adolphe Leroy and Rose Merlin, associates in private and business life,{{clarify|date=October 2017}} opened a business of American surplus. Strengthened by this first success, they decided to sell DIY products and supplies at moderate prices. In 1960, the firm was named Leroy Merlin. It became a precursor, as it was the first company to offer free delivery services.{{Cite web|url=http://www.leroymerlin.com/html/en/histo.htm|title=LEROY MERLIN | LEROY MERLIN, nearly 400 home improvement stores in 12 countries|access-date=2008-11-06 |archive-date=2009-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226021553/http://www.leroymerlin.com/html/en/histo.htm|url-status=dead}}

Generally established on the outskirts of major towns and cities, Leroy Merlin stores are large centres (9000 m² on average) providing self-service and sales assisted services. Its business is centred on six main sectors: DIY, building, gardening, sanitary equipment, renewable energy, and interior decoration.{{Cite web|url=http://www.leroymerlin.com/html/en/voca.htm|title=LEROY MERLIN | LEROY MERLIN, nearly 400 home improvement stores in 12 countries|access-date=2008-11-06 |archive-date=2009-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090323120416/http://www.leroymerlin.com/html/en/voca.htm|url-status=dead}}

In 2022, pursuing its solar strategy, Leroy Merlin dentified 36 French stores with roofs suitable for photovoltaic panels, and sought to secure its supplies of electricity from solar farms.{{Cite journal |title=En quête de friches, Leroy Merlin accélère sur le solaire |url=https://www.lemoniteur.fr/article/en-quete-de-friches-leroy-merlin-accelere-sur-le-solaire.2248261 |access-date=13 February 2024 |website=Le Moniteur|date=29 December 2022 |last1=Moniteur |first1=Le }}

Controversies

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, many international, particularly Western, companies pulled out of Russia. Leroy Merlin, however, on 11 March announced that it has no plans to reduce its operations in Russia, where it operates 143 stores.{{Cite web |last=Pladson |first=Kristie |title=Which companies have pulled out of Russia over the Ukraine invasion? {{!}} DW {{!}} 10.03.2022 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/which-companies-have-pulled-out-of-russia-over-the-ukraine-invasion/a-61078955 |access-date=11 March 2022 |website=DW.COM |language=en-GB}} On 17 March, they cut off the Ukrainian office from corporate communications and stated that they would increase supplies to the Russian Federation.{{Cite web |title=Leroy Merlin blocks Ukraine office from corporate communications, paralyzing aid|url=https://english.nv.ua/business/leroy-merlin-blocks-ukraine-office-from-corporate-communications-paralyzing-aid-50225889.html|access-date=17 March 2022 |website=english.nv.ua |language=en-GB}}

Leroy Merlin has a strong presence in Russia and generates 18% of its turnover there.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.fr/business/war-in-ukraine-workers-of-leroy-merlin-in-ukraine-mobilise-to-get-the-removal-of-the-brand-in-russia/|title=War-in-Ukraine: Leroy Merlin employees in Ukraine are mobilising to get the sign withdrawn in Russia|work=Forbes|author=Estelle Imbert|date=23 March 2022|access-date=23 March 2022|archive-date=2022-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514164342/https://www.forbes.fr/business/war-in-ukraine-workers-of-leroy-merlin-in-ukraine-mobilise-to-get-the-removal-of-the-brand-in-russia/|url-status=dead}} In 2020, the company paid $335 million in taxes as a result of their operations in Russia. In 2021, the company's revenue amounted to 457 billion rubles.{{Cite web |title=ООО "Леруа Мерлен Восток" |url=https://www.rusprofile.ru/id/1725155 |access-date=2023-12-26 |website=www.rusprofile.ru |language=ru}} The company has been criticized for making indirect contributions to the Russian military effort.{{Cite news |title=An explosion in Kyiv killed an employee of Leroy Merlin, which continues to operate in Russia |language=en |work=Ukrainska Pravda |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/03/21/7333294/ |access-date=21 March 2022}}

On the night of 20–21 March 2022, a shopping centre in Kyiv housing a Leroy Merlin shop was bombed. Shop employees called on the company to leave Russia,{{cite web|title=Leroy Merlin Ukraine employees call on the company to leave Russia |url=https://www.bfmtv.com/economie/international/des-salaries-de-leroy-merlin-ukraine-demandent-a-l-enseigne-de-quitter-la-russie_AD-202203210354.html |website=BFM BUSINESS |access-date=21 March 2022}}. as did the Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Honcharenko. The latter, elected in the constituency of Odesa and member of the Ukrainian delegation to the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe, broadcast a video.{{cite web |title= VIDEO. War in Ukraine: Leroy Merlin bombed in Kyiv, employees ask the company to leave Russia

|url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/monde/guerre-en-ukraine/video-guerre-en-ukraine-leroy-merlin-bombarde-a-kiev-des-salaries-demandent-a-l-enseigne-de-quitter-la-russie-675c47ee-ea4f-4e00-990b-1a983e389d60|website=ouest france}} The video was shot in front of the devastated store.

In a statement to AFP, Adeo, Leroy Merlin's holding company, said a closure would be considered a "premeditated bankruptcy"{{cite web |title=Despite Zelensky's appeal, Leroy Merlin remains in Russia and explains why |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/entry/guerre-en-ukraine-leroy-merlin-reste-en-russie-and-explains-why_fr_623b6563e4b0d39357d08034 |website=Le HuffPost |date=23 March 2022 |access-date=2022-03-24}} and says that it has an "employer's responsibility towards [its] 45,000 employees and their families who have been contributing to the building of Leroy Merlin Russia for the past 18 years". However, there are reports of insults and threats from customers following the company's continued operations in Russia.{{cite web |title=Leroy Merlin: employees threatened and insulted by customers because of the group's continued operations in Russia |url=https://www.bfmtv.com/international/asie/russie/leroy-merlin-des-salaries-menaces-et-insultes-par-des-clients-a-cause-du-maintien-des-activites-du-groupe-en-russie_VN-202203300028.html |access-date=2022-03-30}}

In March 2023, Adeo announced its intention to transfer the Russian Leroy Merlin network to local management. According to the company, this process has already begun.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5899006|title=Владелец Leroy Merlin передаст российские активы местному менеджменту|language=ru|date=2023-03-24|website=Kommersant}} On 24 July 2023, the company's Russian branch in Moscow was struck by a drone attack.

Earlier in July, it was named "an international sponsor of war" by the Ukrainian government after Russia obliged all large companies operating in the country "to contribute directly to its war effort". It was placed on the list alongside Unilever and Procter & Gamble.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jul/23/unilever-comply-russian-conscription-law-staff-called-up?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other |title=

Unilever to comply with Russian conscription law if staff called up |work=The Guardian}}