Coopérative U

It is directly descended from the Pain Quotidien ('daily bread') cooperative which was founded in western France in 1894.^[1] In 1920, the association brought together 300 affiliated grocers.

In 2023, Mercure International of Monaco will begin replacing the Casino and Géant brands with Coopérative U in Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon and Senegal.^[2]

In February 2024, the Schiever group becomes a partner of Coopérative U.^[3] It announces that it will begin replacing its Auchan hypermarkets with Hyper U and its Bi1 supermarkets with Super U in March 2025. ^[4]

On May 16, 2024, the group was renamed “Coopérative U”.^[5]

In March 2025, the Schiever group started a replacement of its Auchan hypermarkets with Hyper U and its Bi1 supermarkets with Super U or U Express; 183 stores will gradually join the Coopérative U by 2027.^[6]

When it published its annual results in February 2025, it announced that it had opened 21 new stores and signed 60 acquisitions from other brands.^[6] In June 2025, the group announced 41 opening projects in Africa by 2028, notably via its partner Mercure International of Monaco and the replacement of Casino brands.^[7]

In January 2025, the group announced that it had 1,804 stores in 15 countries.^[8] in 14 countries.^[9]

• Andorra
• France
• Monaco
• Switzerland

• Burkina Faso
• Benin
• Cameroon
• Congo-Brazzaville
• Ivory Coast
• Gabon
• Guinea
• Mauritius
• Madagascar
• Morocco
• Senegal

• Saint Pierre and Miquelon

• Guadeloupe
• Martinique
• Saint Barthélemy
• Collectivity of Saint Martin

• Guyana

• New Caledonia
• French Polynesia

• Réunion

There are four brands found within Coopérative U:

• The largest (in size terms) is the hypermarket Hyper U, which accounts for 15.89% of the group. There are 71 Hyper U stores, which account for a total of 239,293 square metres of retail space (at an average of 4,985 square metres per store). The average spend per trip is €43.60.^[10] These are generally found outside larger towns, but normally as stand-alone structures (rather than as part of a shopping centre)
• The next brand down (in terms of size) is Super U which accounts for 79.58% of the group. There are 773 Super U stores, which account for a total of 1,355,004 square metres of retail space (at an average of 2,016 square metres per store). The average spend per trip is €33.30. These are typical supermarkets, and are found either in the centre or on the outskirts of smaller towns. Again they exist as standalone structures.^[10]
• Within city centres (and in rural areas), there are smaller stores known as U Express, which account for 4.53% of the group. There are 294 U Express stores, which account for a total of 104,468 square metres of retail space (at an average of 730 square metres per store). The average spend per trip is €17.00.^[10]
• Utile are the smallest brand stores in Système U with 410 locations across France. They are usually run as independent convenience stores and so do not accept Système U clubcards. They are found mainly in small towns, village centers and at rest stations (except on dual carriageways and motorways) in rural parts of France.