Fox-Wizel Nike Store in Lyon Looted During Civil Unrest Across France
A Nike store in Lyon operated by Israel's Fox-Wizel Group was looted during riots in France. Despite global sales weakness and civil unrest, expansion plans remain active.
The recent riots in France have impacted Israeli business interests, as a Nike store operated by Fox-Wizel Group's retail division in Lyon was looted over the weekend amid widespread unrest across the city.
Business Impact and Challenges
Retailors holds the franchise to operate 17 Nike stores in France, and the targeted branch is one of two locations in Lyon. This incident compounds an already challenging period for the company, as global Nike sales face a continuous decline. While existing stores struggle to grow, the company has attempted to expand operations by opening new branches. Although company insurance covers theft events, the temporary shutdown of the looted store adds further operational friction.
Retailors is not alone in suffering losses. Nike itself operates four stores in France, and its flagship branch in Les Halles, Paris, was also looted during the disturbances.
Curfews and Market Outlook
"Despite the weakness in sales, the expansion plan in France remains on the table."
Curfews were recently imposed in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and Nice — all cities where Retailors operates Nike branches. While these curfews do not directly impact trading hours since they apply when shops are already closed, the primary concern remains ongoing unrest and its chilling effect on consumer foot traffic.
As of late June, Retailors operated 185 stores worldwide. In France, it runs 17 Nike stores, including 12 acquired from another franchisee in mid-2025 and five opened independently. Despite the setbacks, Retailors still intends to open 5–10 new stores in the country throughout 2026.
