Rakuten France to shut its marketplace, ending operations in France and Spain

Rakuten France, the former PriceMinister marketplace, announced that it will stop operating at 23:59 on 30 September, halting all new transactions in both France and Spain. The platform, which hosts third-party sellers of electronics, appliances, toys and other goods, has seen a ten-year decline of 33 % in customers and a 42 % fall in traffic. Efforts to sell the unit failed because no bidder met the three stipulated criteria: preserving jobs, offering acceptable financial terms, and limiting risk while ensuring long-term sustainability.

The French works council (CSE) issued a negative opinion on the proposals. Pixmania, a French e-commerce firm, claimed its offer—backed by shareholders including Xavier Niel of Groupe one outlet—was dismissed, leaving the company disappointed. Approximately 180 staff members will receive assistance measures as the closure proceeds. Rakuten, which acquired PriceMinister in 2010, employs over 25 000 people worldwide.