Lyon, April 17 – Api, the rural convenience store chain, is accelerating its expansion in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region with the recruitment of a dedicated development manager based in Lyon. This strategic move is part of the company’s sustained growth and its extension into new regions across France.
Api’s Structured Territorial Development Strategy
Founded in 2022, Api has been steadily deploying its unique model, which focuses on rural areas underserved by local shops. The company currently operates 150 convenience stores across six French regions and plans to open an additional 45 in 2026, following 50 openings in 2025.
To support this dynamic growth, the SME, which employs 120 people, is structuring its territorial organization. This includes recruiting development managers in several key regions to accelerate the pace of new store openings.
In Lyon, Déborah Cane has joined Api to lead development in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. With a background in social and solidarity economy and project management, her mission will be to identify new territories and oversee new store implementation projects.
Several Projects Already Underway in the Region
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes represents a strategic axis for the brand. Several projects are already in progress, with building permits under review in Puy-de-Dôme, Isère, and Drôme.
The model relies on targeted implementation in municipalities with more than 700 inhabitants that lack a food store and are located far from a supermarket. Each project undergoes a feasibility study to ensure its long-term economic viability. This approach allows the company to secure its openings while addressing an identified need in many territories.
A Model Adapted to the Challenges of Rural Areas
Api offers small, self-service convenience stores with a focused product range covering essential daily needs. The objective is to offer prices comparable to those of large supermarkets, while also integrating a proportion of local products.
In a context of rising energy costs and pressure on purchasing power, this model addresses a concrete problem for residents of rural areas, who are often dependent on cars for their shopping. Proximity thus becomes an economic and social lever, reducing travel and facilitating access to essential products.
An Impact-Oriented Company in Expansion Phase
Certified B Corp, Api operates as a mission-driven company, with a stated commitment to reducing territorial inequalities and the environmental footprint associated with consumption.
For the second consecutive year, the brand has been selected for the Impact 40/120 ranking, which highlights the most committed French companies on social and environmental issues. With 380 local producers referenced and a customer base primarily located within a few kilometers of its points of sale, Api asserts a model deeply rooted in local territories.
The current development phase, marked by the opening of new regions such as Occitanie, Grand Est, and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, confirms the company’s national ambition. For retail and territorial development stakeholders, this proximity distribution model could emerge as a sustainable response to commercial desertification.
Source: lyon-entreprises.com
