Marionnaud, a well-known French perfume and cosmetics retailer, faced store closures across multiple cities on Saturday as employees protested the proposed acquisition of the company by CK Hutchison, a large conglomerate based in Hong Kong. The closures affected 14 stores in Lyon, three in Toulouse, and several others in Paris, Marseille, Nancy, Limoges, Fécamp, and Auxerre. The coordinated action was organized by a group of labor unions, including CGT, UNSA, CFDT, and CFE-CGC, to express concerns over the acquisition and its potential impact on jobs and social benefits. Employees were instructed not to open stores, signaling a strong objection to the proposed change in ownership. CK Hutchison announced on July 6 that it was in talks with David Konckier, the main shareholder of Bogart, the parent company of Marionnaud. Bogart also owns other perfume and cosmetics brands such as Jacques Bogart, Ted Lapidus, and Carven. The unions argue that the acquisition does not provide enough assurances about the future of jobs or employee benefits, prompting a strike by around 2,400 workers. According to Myriam Dequéant of the UNSA union, the closures would affect most stores in Lyon and Toulouse, with some stores closing only for a few hours or in the afternoon, depending on employees' financial situations. The unions are demanding written guarantees about the continuation of employment, the future of the store network, the conditions for possible job loss, and the preservation of social benefits. Dequéant criticized CK Hutchison for planning to offer only the legal minimum in terms of compensation for store closures, while also suspending benefits tied to sales targets—such as the 14th month of pay some female employees previously received. She also pointed out that recent decisions by the Hong Kong-based shareholder have led to "catastrophic" effects, including higher prices and reduced services in aesthetic care. An extraordinary meeting of the company’s CSE (Comité Social et Économique), which represents employees, is scheduled for Monday. The current sentiment among workers is described as "very reserved," indicating uncertainty about the future. Marionnaud generated about 536 million euros in revenue in France in 2024 and operates 377 stores in the country, with nearly 700 sales points across Europe. The company employs around 2,400 people in France, with 98% of them being women. Management was not available for comment on Saturday afternoon.