Lyon’s Presqu’île Boosted by Exceptional Financial Aid While Picnic Adapts in France’s Delivery Market

Local economies in France are navigating significant challenges with strategic support and business adaptations. In Lyon’s Presqu’île, a historic district facing economic fragility due to the introduction of a Limited Traffic Zone (ZTL) and the threatened closure of local establishments such as the charcuterie Bonnard, substantial financial aid has been mobilized to preserve its commercial vitality. Authorities from the Metropolitan and City of Lyon have announced an exceptional financial support package of 80,000 euros for the association My Presqu’île. This funding supplements previous contributions, bringing the total support to over 195,000 euros, backed also by the Chamber of Commerce and other partners. Mayor Grégory Doucet underscored the importance of maintaining My Presqu’île to safeguard the city center’s vibrancy and attractiveness, especially given the economic impact from the ZTL and ongoing tensions between environmental ambitions and local economic needs. My Presqu’île plays a critical role in organizing major events such as the Lyon Braderie Festival, which enliven the area and support its commercial fabric.

Meanwhile, in the broader French economic landscape, the online delivery sector is witnessing a reshaping. Picnic, a Dutch online supermarket active in France since 2021, has successfully differentiated itself by focusing on next-day delivery, avoiding the pitfalls experienced by many quick commerce startups burdened by inflation and rising operational costs. Grégoire Borgoltz, Picnic's operations director in France, noted the company’s strategic distance from the high-speed delivery race that caused failures for rivals like Kol, Getir, and Gorillas. Starting deliveries in Valenciennes, Picnic expanded to Lille, Douai, and Île-de-France and now commands 40% of the market in its sector. This measured approach has allowed Picnic to withstand economic headwinds and remain competitive amid France’s challenging economic environment.

Together, these cases in Lyon and the delivery market illustrate differing but complementary strategies in addressing economic challenges—public financial aid reinforcing local commerce threatened by regulatory changes, and business innovation adapting market delivery models to sustain growth amid inflation and cost pressures.