After Kol, Zapp closes its stores, the end of a “bubble”?

At the bar, the two lawyers scrap. They both have the same dress, but from their shoes, one would almost guess that they are not from the same camp. One, high golden heels, defends the British company Zapp, a “dark store” which began its grocery delivery activities in May 2021, and already wants to lay off all of its employees. The other, worn white sneakers, speaks on behalf of Parisian employees, represented by the Sud commerces et services Ile de France union.

In mid-March, the 139 employees of Zapp, all on permanent contracts, received the announcement like a crushing blow: the company will close, for economic reasons. The French branch of the young shoot which promised to deliver in less than 20 minutes, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week for 1.80 euro drinks or snacks, does not take off, say the bosses. The employees are in amazement: how can a company that raised 200 million euros in January close all the stores in a country so quickly?

Market clearance phase

These men and women bear the brunt of over-investment in the rapid delivery of groceries. In Paris, some 60 “dark stores”, in French “shadow stores”, have grown in recent years, belonging to a dozen brands, according to a study by Apur (Parisian urban planning workshop). “It is very likely that their number will be reduced, the market probably not being large enough for so many candidates” noted the research firm in February, visionary. Before Zapp, the start-up Kol closed its delivery service to individuals in January, after being placed in receivership in early December.

“We have seen these brands raise funds to finance their expansion, they have deployed very quickly, taking advantage of the absence of a legal framework, and now we are in the phase of clearing the market” explains Pascal Madry, economist and urban planner and director of the institute for the city and commerce. Who adds: “This criterion of short-term delivery, in 10 or 20 minutes, is only a means of penetrating the market more quickly. This time will necessarily be extended to one hour, which is good economic time. »

“We were simply a commercial showcase”

At Zapp, the adventure lasted just over a year. The employees will not even have had time to elect staff representatives, which is why they are in court this Thursday, May 12. “I ask that this CSE be organized under penalty [comité social et économique] and that the social plan cannot be put in place until the CSE is in place! thunders Master Nicolas Collet-Thiry, in the courtroom of Paris. Opposite, Zapp’s lawyer invokes a minimum period of twelve consecutive months for a company with a minimum of 11 employees to be forced to set up professional elections.

Bypassing the rules is commonplace among dark stores, according to Apur. Shark methods too? Zapp employees in any case accuse their managers of having knowingly let the company die: “We felt a neglect of France, there was no investment despite the millions of euros, explains Sami, a team manager. We were simply a commercial showcase to allow investors to raise funds. On Zapp’s side, we refuse to comment on these speculations: “It would be inappropriate for us to comment publicly while a legal procedure is in progress” affirms to 20 minutes a spokesperson for the British company.

“A false need created from scratch around laziness”

“This is the kind of company that takes employees as adjustment variables”, abounds master Nicolas Collet-Thiry. In the courtroom, elected Parisians came to lend their support, and intend to put an end to what they describe as “lawless zones”: advisers Émile Meunier, from the environmental group, and Barbara Gomes, among the Communists. The deliberation will be delivered on May 24.

“We must ask for there to be a labor inspectorate in each of these warehouses, demands Emile Meunier. All this to satisfy a false need created from scratch around the lazy: press a button to order a tube of toothpaste. People have to be aware that behind it, there is human misfortune. »