Polish city breaks cooperation with Leroy Merlin, over Ukraine

The French do-it-yourself chain remains notoriously indifferent to the Russian aggression and carries on operations there

The authorities of Gdynia are breaking their cooperation with the local store of Leroy Merlin. The reason: despite calls from the public, the French do-it-yourself chain consistently refuses to cease or limit its operations in Russia, like many western companies did after the start of the invasion in Ukraine.

No municipal partnerships with companies legitimising Russia’s aggression

In an official letter from 7 April, the President (Mayor of a large city in Poland) of Gdynia Wojciech Szczurek informed the management of the local store of Leroy Merlin that they are unilaterally ending their cooperation. The decision is due to the company’s policy to continue operating in Russia (branded there as Леруа Мерлен), in the context of the Kremlin’s military aggression in Ukraine.

The city website reminds that political leaders from around the world are imposing economic sanctions, so as to not support the Russian economy and to express their clear opposition to the war. A large list of Western companies operating in Russia have already either suspended or considerably limited their operations there, but the French DYI chain is not among them.

“Nobody can remain indifferent to the atrocity of the Russians in Ukraine. We must show solidarity with the Ukrainian people by all means. Any business activity conducted with Russia today is a form of legitimation and acceptance of its criminal policy and financial support for these activities.

That is why I deeply condemn the decision of the management of Leroy Merlin and other Groupe Adeo companies to remain on the Russian market and I do not see any possibility of continuing our cooperation,” reads the letter of Gdynia, Szczurek.

The formal cooperation between the city and the store started last autumn and was in the field of rainwater retention. In particular, local residents or companies are allowed to get a municipal subsidy of up to PLN 10,000 and 80% of the costs of rainwater management tools for their properties – closed garden systems, retention and drainage devices, permeable surfaces, etc.

Said activities are meant to make households more climate resistant by saving water and preventing flooding, while saving on water expenses. Leroy Merlin would promote the initiative in the store with leaflets by the city hall and expert advice, hence also stimulate customers to purchase its products. It follows then that as part of the cooperation, municipal money will bring profit to the company.

Now, this will no longer be supported by the City Hall. The subsidy, however, remains and can be used in any store of this type in Gdynia.

Leroy Merlin has received a lot of criticism in Poland for sitting on the fence when it comes to the conflict. One of the most artistic expressions, as Notes from Poland reports, is the replacement of price tags at Merlin’s home improvement and gardening sections with fake labels, reading things like “container for a corpse” on a large bin, hammers “for killing” or brushes for “sweeping away feelings of guilt.”