Gérard Mulliez

Gérard Mulliez (born May 13, 1931, in Roubaix) is a French businessman and member of a prominent textile industry family from northern France (Phildar).

In the late 1950s, he traveled to the United States to attend seminars led by Bernardo Trujillo on the new retail models emerging in the country. Inspired by the Carrefour model (founded by Marcel Fournier, who applied Trujillo's principles), Gérard Mulliez opened his first store in 1961 in the "Hauts Champs" neighborhood of Roubaix.

However, the beginnings were difficult and the results disappointing. Gérard Mulliez then decided to follow the advice of Edouard Leclerc (founder of the Leclerc stores) and discovered that selling at lower prices boosted sales. He particularly applied this principle to whisky, dramatically lowering its price.

Today, he serves as president of the Auchan Group and oversees its network of retail chains, including: Auchan, Akí, Alcampo, Alinéa, Amarine, Boulanger, Bricomart, Decathlon, Flunch, Kiabi, Kiloutou, Leroy Merlin, OBI, Norauto, Picpain, Pimkie, Picwic, Pizza Paï, Telandcom, Saint-Maclou, and 3 Suisses.

He has been awarded the Legion of Honour.

Bibliography

• Richard C. Whiteley and Gérard Mulliez, La dynamique du client, interview book with Jean-Pierre Thiollet, Paris, Maxima, 1994 (and 1997).