Serge Papin

Serge Gérard Christian Papin (sɛʁʒ(ə) papɛ̃; born 1 August 1955) is a French business executive and politician. He was chairman and CEO of the cooperative retail group Système U from 2005 to 2018.^[1][2] He is known for promoting sustainable business practices and for launching the manifesto Osons Demain, pour la transition écologique des entreprises. In 2024, he became non-executive chairman of Auchan France,^[3] and in 2025, he was appointed Minister for Small and Medium Enterprises, Trade, Crafts, Tourism and Purchasing Power in Sébastien Lecornu's second government.^[4]

Biography

Early life and education

Serge Gérard Christian Papin was born to Jean Papin and Madeleine Duranteau, both grocers. His family ran a store in La Châtaigneraie, Vendée. He studied at the Saint-Joseph College in Fontenay-le-Comte, later completing vocational studies in accounting and commerce. He holds a BEP in Commerce.

Career

Papin began his career in retail in 1972 as a warehouse worker at an Intermarché in Fontenay-le-Comte. In 1976, he joined Système U Ouest, where he created its communications department and later managed the Super U store in Chantonnay, which he bought in 1989.^[5]

He rose through the ranks of the cooperative, becoming regional vice-president in 1997 and CEO of Système U Ouest in 1998.^[6] In 2005, he was appointed CEO of Système U National, leading the group’s modernization, marketing strategy, and ecological initiatives such as the Écovalor recycling project.^[7]

He left Système U in 2018,^[8] succeeded by Dominique Schelcher,^[9] after forging an alliance with Carrefour to strengthen negotiation power with suppliers.

Later activities

After leaving Système U, Papin worked as a consultant, author, and public speaker on ecological and social transitions in retail.^[10] In 2024, he became non-executive chairman of Auchan France.

Political career

On 12 October 2025, Serge Papin was appointed Minister for Small and Medium Enterprises, Trade, Crafts, Tourism, and Purchasing Power in Sébastien Lecornu's second government.^[11][12]

Personal life

Papin has four daughters from his first marriage and one son, born in 2010, from his second.^[13]

Honours

He was made an Officer of the National Order of Merit on 24 November 2021.^[14]

References

1. ^ "L'ex-patron de Système U, Serge Papin, nommé ministre des PME" (in French). BFM BUSINESS. 2025-10-13. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
2. ^ "Serge Papin, le VRP star de Système U" (in French). L'Express. 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
3. ^ "Un nouvel administrateur chez Auchan : Serge Papin, l'ancien patron de Système U !" (in French). l'Informé. 2023-01-26. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
4. ^ "Serge Papin, l'ex-patron très médiatique de Système U, nommé ministre des PME" (in French). 2025-10-13. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
5. ^ "Serge Papin, l'anti Michel-Édouard Leclerc" (in French). Le Figaro. 2007-11-01. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
6. ^ "Carte U : les raisons du succès". validate.perfdrive.com. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
7. ^ "Serge Papin, président pour un nouveau Système U". validate.perfdrive.com. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
8. ^ "Serge Papin (Système U) : "J'ai essayé de substituer le consommer mieux au consommer plus"" (in fr-FR). Franceinfo. 2018-05-15. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
9. ^ "Dominique Schelcher remplace Serge Papin à la tête de Système U" (in fr-FR). Ouest-France.fr. 2018-05-15. Archived 8 October 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
10. ^ Beautru, Amaury BeautruAmaury BeautruAmaury (2023-01-27). "L'ex-patron de Système U Serge Papin prend place chez Auchan retail" (in French). www.lineaires.com. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
11. ^ "Gouvernement Lecornu II : une entrée en force de la société civile, de Farandou à Papin"
12. ^ "Le gouvernement Lecornu II dévoilé, voici les 34 ministres" (in French). Le HuffPost. 2025-10-12. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
13. ^ "Page auteur Serge Papin - Médiathèque Cerfeuille". new.mabib.fr. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
14. ^ "Décret du 24 novembre 2021 portant promotion et nomination dans l'ordre national du Mérite" (in French). Légifrance