LP profile · Corporate
Groupe Galeries Lafayette
Groupe Galeries Lafayette is a corporate headquartered in France (Europe). Ranked #376 in the 2026 Dealroom Power Law LP Ranking by realised power-law score across its venture commitments.
Historical Background
- In 1894, cousins Théophile Bader and Alphonse Kahn established a presence in Paris by opening a small fashion store in a haberdasher's shop.
- The company acquired the entire building at 1 rue La Fayette in 1896 and expanded its footprint in 1905 by acquiring adjacent buildings on boulevard Haussmann.
- To make design more accessible, the group founded the "La Maîtrise" applied arts workshops in 1922, under the artistic direction of Maurice Dufrêne, to produce furniture, fabrics, and other decorative items.
Source of Capital
- Groupe Galeries Lafayette is a private, family-run business.
Major Events
- In 1971, the group acquired the remaining shares of Inno-France, which was then integrated into the Monoprix organization.
- The company acquired La Redoute in 2017, a prominent player in online fashion and home decor.
- In 2019, the group acquired the online private sales platform BazarChic.
Allocation Strategy
- The group has a corporate venture capital arm, Galeries Lafayette Plug and Play, which is a partnership with the global innovation platform Plug and Play.
- This venture arm focuses on early-stage startups in the retail and e-commerce sectors.
- The program supports the selected startups with mentorship, resources, and potential funding to foster their growth.
Sources
- http://groupegalerieslafayette.com
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galeries_Lafayette
- https://haussmann.galerieslafayette.com/en/culture-and-heritage/
- https://www.company-histories.com/Galeries-Lafayette-SA-Company-History.html
- https://www.groupegalerieslafayette.com/en/press-releases/the-galeries-lafayette-group-becomes-the-sole-shareholder-of-la-redoute/
- https://www.groupegalerieslafayette.com/en/press-releases/the-galeries-lafayette-group-acquires-bazarchic/
- https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/lafayette/