Jean-Paul Freret Named Personality of the Year at MAPIC 2010

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Nov 10, 2010, 11:29 ET

PARIS, Nov. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Jean-Paul Freret, Director of Expansion and Real Estate and member of the executive committee of the Vivarte group, France's leading off-the-shelf chain store, has been named Personality of the Year by the MAPIC Awards 2010 jury. He will receive his prize during the MAPIC Awards ceremony at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes at 9:30 pm on Thursday, 18 November, 2010 during the 16th MAPIC.

The MAPIC Awards jury paid tribute to Jean-Paul Freret's professional career at Vivarte, as well as his enthusiastic and endearing personality. Alain Boutigny, the chief editor of Sites Commerciaux and member of the MAPIC Awards jury, said that Jean-Paul Freret embodies "an exemplary model of work, passion and loyalty. Driven by an international vision, he set up the first Casino hypermarket in Asia, and later in Poland. This brilliant Director of Expansion and Real Estate believes that development requires both diversity and field work, which means constantly visiting sites to gain a full grasp of Europe's retail geography."

A former director of Auchan's expansion in Eastern Europe, Jean-Paul Freret became Director of Expansion and Real Estate for Vivarte in 2000. "We're extremely happy," says Nathalie Depetro, Director of MAPIC, "to reward this talented man who pioneered the roll out of Vivarte's brands during his 10 years with the group. He expanded their sites in city centres and on the outskirts in shopping centres and business parks across France and Europe."

About the Vivarte Group

The leader in France in personal accessories with a footwear market share of 30%, Vivarte includes 24 retail brands in France and abroad in footwear and clothing. It has over 4,400 shops, including 3,000 branches in France and abroad, and posts sales including VAT of euro 3.7 billion, through such brands as Andre, San Marina, Minelli, La Halle aux Chaussures, Kookai, Naf Naf, Carroll, and Chevignon. The group offers a complete, varied and accessible range of clothing for men, women and children. Vivarte has managed to consolidate and accelerate its growth through acquisitions and by creating new brands such as Beryl Accessoire Diffusion, Defi Mode, Cosmo and Super Sport.

For further information about MAPIC visit www.mapic.com.

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