Rakuten France to Shut Down Online Marketplace From October 1

Rakuten France will cease operating its online marketplace starting October 1, Le Monde reported, after the company failed to find a buyer for the platform.

The site announced on its homepage that, from that date, it will no longer be possible to make new purchases or sales through the platform, according to the report. Around 180 employees are affected by the shutdown.

Years of Declining Market Share

Rakuten France, facing intense competition in the French e-commerce market, had struggled for years to reverse a decline in its business, Le Monde said. The platform, part of Japanese e-commerce group Rakuten, was unable to keep pace with larger domestic and international rivals in the online retail space.

The report did not specify what severance or reassignment plans, if any, would be offered to the affected employees, nor did it detail the company's plans for winding down existing seller and buyer accounts on the platform.

The closure marks the end of a significant international foray by Rakuten into the French market, in a sector that has seen consolidation as smaller and mid-sized online marketplaces face growing pressure from dominant global platforms.