Monoprix variety store of France has acquired Sarenza. Sarenza, the French online shoe retailer, was created in 2005 and, with sales of €250m (before returns) in 30 countries, had probably got as far as it could go on its own. Low margins aggravated by high delivery costs and returns as well as fierce competition from the likes of Asos of the UK, La Redoute, Zalando of Germany (which has recently opened a new DC in France) and others, including most recently Amazon, created the need for a larger partner for investment purposes. Monoprix, now part of giant Casino group, has sales of around €5bn from 800 stores. Some 14% of sales come from textiles but only 1% are achieved online. It is stronger online with food where it has a partnership with Ocado. The plan is to develop a separate website for non-food with Sarenza. The network of stores should also lower the last mile delivery costs of Sarenza.