La Halle
Groupe Beaumanoir · France
La Halle is a French discount clothing and shoe chain launched in 1981 by Groupe André, then part of Vivarte. It has belonged to Groupe Beaumanoir since 2020.
| Launched | 1981 |
|---|---|
| Launched by | Groupe André (Vivarte) |
| Owner | Groupe Beaumanoir (since 2020) |
| Country of origin | France |
| Segment | Mass market and fast fashion |
| Stores taken over (2020) | 367 |
| Website | lahalle.com |
What is La Halle?
La Halle, formerly La Halle aux vêtements, is a French ready-to-wear and footwear retailer focused on family fashion at low prices. It is owned by Groupe Beaumanoir.
History
La Halle was launched in 1981 by Groupe André, under Jean-Louis Descours, as a discount shoe store called La Halle aux Chaussures. La Halle aux Vêtements followed in 1984. The group originated in the Chaussure André business, linked to a shoe manufacture acquired in Nancy in 1896, and later belonged to Vivarte. In 2013 the brand split into La Halle Mode et Accessoires and La Halle Chaussures et Maroquinerie in a move upmarket that failed. Online platforms were merged into lahalle.com in 2014, and the shoe business was absorbed into La Halle aux vêtements on 1 January 2019.
Restructuring and ownership
More than 150 stores closed in 2015. Philippe Thirache became president in 2016 to refocus on family customers, and Stéphane Roche became president and chief executive in 2019. In 2020 Beaumanoir's Pégase took control of selected assets rather than buying La Halle SAS: 367 stores, the La Halle brands, Liberto and Creeks, and the lahalle.com domain. A further 124 former stores went to Chaussea in 2021.
Why it matters
La Halle is a prominent example of a French value retailer broken up out of the Vivarte group and rebuilt inside a family-owned portfolio. Its history also shows the difficulty of repositioning a discount brand upmarket. The current store count and leadership for 2026 could not be verified.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns La Halle?
La Halle has belonged to Groupe Beaumanoir since 2020, when the group took over 367 stores, the brands and the lahalle.com domain from the former Vivarte business.
Where is La Halle from?
La Halle is a French brand, launched in 1981 by Groupe André as a discount shoe retailer.