The year 2020 saw a 4.9% drop in press outlets in France, according to figures unveiled by Daniel Panetto, the president of Culture Presse, the trade organisation for press merchants. The numbered sales network now has 20,917 outlets, or 1,068 fewer than at the end of 2019. Independents represent nearly 77% of this network.
"Unsurprisingly, the numbered sales network has not been spared by the twofold crisis we have experienced (health crisis and logistics distribution crisis). Let's note, however, that our convenience network is faring better than other retail outlets, whose numbers are falling by 4-5% each year (and probably more in 2020)."
The figures also show great disparities.
Mass retailing is doing much better than the average with a drop of 2.3%. The number of independents also fell by "only" 3.6%.
On the other hand, the number of cultural brands fell by 24.7% and the number of substitutes by 13.7%.
"Thus, the independent specialist network with a wide range of newspapers appears to be relatively less affected than the others, analyses Daniel Panetto.
A significant press business, backed by the usual diversification activities of our stores, is a resilience factor in such a complicated period, and probably a development lever when the health conditions allow for an economic recovery."
The president of the professional organization draws another conclusion: nearly 70% of the total number of disappearances concern very small or small linear stores, i.e. less than 80 linear meters developed.
