Relay booksellers lose autonomy in Lyon

At the Lyon station, Relay booksellers will lose the ability to freely order books starting November 1, 2026, according to an investigation by Mediapart. Lagardère, the parent company, has decided to remove their access to the order platform, which was previously used to supplement the selection imposed by the headquarters.

Reduction of literary space

A fifth of the space dedicated to books must also be replaced by Lego toys. This reorganization was announced less than three months after the adoption of an editorial diversity charter by the chain. Unlike most Relay stores, the employees at the Lyon station had retained the ability to order directly from publishers and distributors, allowing them to offer books not present in the national selection.

Shift in book selection

Starting November 1, the booksellers will have to be content with the books selected by the headquarters and the titles distributed by Hachette. The work done in 2024 had already reduced by 60% the space dedicated to press and literature, in favor of food products and souvenirs. Despite this contraction, the only literary activity would have generated one million euros in turnover in 2025.

Lagardère's stance

Lagardère confirms a long-planned evolution, while contesting that it constitutes an abandonment of books or pluralism. The group recalls that "Relay is not a bookstore, and even less an independent one." This decision comes as Lagardère Travel Retail signed on July 29 a "diversity and non-discrimination charter," intended to regulate the referencing and promotion of books in its stores.

Commitments and limitations

For essays and publications printed in 10,000 copies or more, Relay promises an initial order representing at least 3% of the national print run, with a presence in at least 90 of its main sales points. For books published in less than 10,000 copies, no minimum referencing is guaranteed. However, Lagardère plans the possibility of referencing after discussion with the publisher, depending on the public likely to be interested.

Commercial criteria and oversight

The management of Lagardère Travel Retail presented this arrangement as a way to apply identical commercial criteria to all publishers, regardless of their size or affiliation to a group. However, this charter remains inaccessible to the public and its commitments are controlled internally, without any announced independent verification. Another limitation: the initial print run of the books, on which the selection criteria are based, is not a systematically public data.

Controversies and mobilization

The announced removal of autonomous orders at Lyon station therefore raises a new question: how will booksellers now be able to offer books not present in the national selection? The charter regulates the commercial practices of the network, without guaranteeing the teams the possibility of locally supplementing the assortment. Commercial decisions already contested Relay's commercial decisions have been the subject of criticism for several months.

Criticism and investigations

In June, ActuaLitté revisited the cancellation of an order of about 400 copies of Bernard Arnault, his merciless universe (La Tribu, 2026), an investigation by Audrey Millet. Arnaud Nourry, president of the Nouveaux Éditeurs, denounced a boycott, while Relay cited commercial considerations. An investigation by the Observatory of Multinationals, conducted in 30 French stations, also noted a strong exposure of several conservative or far-right essays, notably those published by Fayard, a house of the Hachette group.

Involvement of SNCF

However, the observations did not allow concluding to a systematically favorable treatment of these books throughout the network. These controversies had contributed to the mobilization of several professional organizations and associations. Alternatiba, SUD-Rail, the SNJ-CGT, Greenpeace or the League of Professional Authors had notably addressed the SNCF in July, demanding a more diversified editorial and journalistic offer in the stations.

Shared responsibility

The Relay stores located in stations are not solely the responsibility of Lagardère. Their operation is managed by Lagardère & Connexions, a company jointly owned by Lagardère Travel Retail and SNCF Gares & Connexions, a subsidiary of the SNCF responsible for French stations. The renewed partnership in 2023 for ten years includes provisions allowing the SNCF to exercise control over the activities of this joint company.

SNCF's response

The sale of books and newspapers is part of the main activities planned in the commercial spaces concerned. According to Mediapart, the SNCF had asked Lagardère to define objective referencing criteria, a move that preceded the adoption of the charter. When asked by the media about the new reorganization of Lyon station, the railway company did not wish to comment and referred the matter to Lagardère.