Business · Companies · 1 day ago
GiFi placed under court-supervised restructuring, putting 6,000 French jobs at risk
French retailer GiFi has entered court-supervised restructuring at its own request, after facing serious financial difficulties.
The Toulouse commercial court ordered a six-month period to assess the business and its ability to keep operating.
GiFi’s stores employ 6,000 people in France, though the company’s new chairman said the procedure itself would have no immediate effect on jobs and would not bring a new job-cut plan.
The company’s problems began with a failed computer-system change in 2023 and grew amid competition from discount stores and online platforms such as Temu.
In 2025, GiFi considered cutting 5% of its workforce but later stopped that plan, and it has since moved to sell about 30 stores to food retailer Grand Frais.
The court will review GiFi’s finances on January 8 and decide whether it has enough resources to continue its business and remain under observation.
GiFi was placed under court-supervised restructuring at its own request by the Toulouse commercial court on 3 November.
The retailer’s stores employ 6,000 people in France, whose jobs are at risk.
The court ordered a six-month observation period and scheduled another hearing for 8 January.
GiFi’s president said the procedure would not by itself have an immediate effect on employment or lead to a new job-saving plan.
The company’s difficulties have been linked to a failed IT system change in 2023 and competition from discount retailers and online platforms.
- Who
- GiFi, whose stores employ 6,000 people in France.
- What
- The Toulouse commercial court placed the group under court-supervised restructuring at its request.
- When
- 3 November 2026. A further hearing is scheduled for 8 January.
- Where
- France; the case was heard by the Toulouse commercial court.
- Why
- The group is facing major difficulties, following a failed IT system change and competition from discount retailers and online platforms.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
GiFi’s difficulties began with a failed change to its IT system.
GiFi considered cutting its workforce by 5% but later halted the plan.
President Patrick Puy said he wanted to protect as many employees as possible.
The Toulouse commercial court placed GiFi under restructuring and ordered a six-month observation period.
The court is due to hold another hearing to assess whether GiFi has sufficient financial capacity to continue operating and remain under observation.
- Employees in France
- 6,000
- Court
- Toulouse commercial court
- Observation period
- Six months
- Next hearing
- 8 January
- Stores
- More than 500
- Proposed store sale
- About 30 stores to Grand Frais
5 sources
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Le groupe GiFi placé en redressement judiciaire à sa demande, 6 000 emplois menacés en France
What people are saying
protect a maximum of employees
For now, this procedure will have no immediate consequence on employment by itself
The market, as you know, deteriorated sharply over the summer and GiFi was not spared.