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French Startup Le Fourgon Acquires Rival La Tournée to Accelerate Reusable Packaging Adoption

Paris, France - In a move to consolidate its position in France's reusable packaging market, Le Fourgon, a northern startup, has acquired its Parisian rival La Tournée. The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in late 2021 by Juliette Poiret, Camille Perbost and Zaccarie Morel, La Tournée operates an online platform that allows customers to order organic and local products delivered in reusable containers. The startup had raised €4.5 million in funding last September to fuel its growth.

By absorbing La Tournée, Le Fourgon is poised to significantly expand its geographic reach. The combined entity will now cover 45% of the French population, spanning over 3,000 municipalities. Moreover, the acquisition adds 15,000 customers to Le Fourgon's existing base, bringing it closer to the symbolic 100,000-customer milestone.

"This consolidation will allow us to accelerate the democratization of reuse and make deposit-return schemes an essential consumption reflex," said Charles Christory, co-founder and CEO of Le Fourgon.

The move comes as the reusable packaging industry in France gains traction, buoyed by growing consumer demand for sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics. Le Fourgon, launched by a trio of entrepreneurs from Lille, has been expanding rapidly, opening a new city on average every month.

Industry experts view the acquisition as a strategic play by Le Fourgon to solidify its position as a leading player in the nascent but fast-growing sector. The deal will enable the company to leverage La Tournée's strong presence in the Paris region, allowing it to better serve a larger customer base nationwide.

"By bringing La Tournée into the fold, Le Fourgon is positioning itself as a dominant force in the French reusable packaging market," said a Paris-based private equity investor who requested anonymity. "This move will likely accelerate the adoption of deposit-return schemes as consumers become more familiar with the concept."

The transaction also highlights the increasing interest from investors in the sustainability-focused logistics and circular economy space. PAI Partners, a prominent private equity firm, had backed Le Fourgon's growth ambitions through a Series A funding round earlier this year.

As the reusable packaging industry continues to evolve, the acquisition of La Tournée by Le Fourgon underscores the startup's determination to lead the charge in promoting a more sustainable consumption model across France.