Behind its 35 m², this shop hides a strong ambition: to train differently for sustainable integration. Located on the campus of the Eklya School of Business in Écully, this school-store looks like a classic convenience store... but with a much bigger mission. Here, Carrefour is experimenting with an innovative model in France: a dedicated learning space for young people with Down syndrome or autism spectrum disorders. The goal is clear: to allow them to learn in real conditions to facilitate their access to employment in the retail sector.
In this mini-store, students learn all the everyday skills: welcoming customers, managing a cash register, organizing shelves, and labeling products. Nothing is left to chance, but everything is designed to avoid stress.
ss and encourage progress. Here, there's no disconnected theory: we learn by doing, at everyone's own pace. A pragmatic approach that allows for the development of skills that can be directly transferred to the store.A project that fits into a broader strategy
This school-store is not just a trial run, but a key part of the group's disability plan. With already 14,000 employees with disabilities, Carrefour has strong ambitions through its "Carrefour 2026" program. The company plans to massively recruit and support new profiles towards employment. By the end of the year, a first group of around eighty students could benefit from this initiative, before landing internships or apprenticeships in stores in the Lyon region.
Faced with a job market that’s still closed off, this initiative opens up a new and necessary pathway. Because today, only a tiny fraction of individuals with intellectual disabilities have access to regular employment. With this school-store, Carrefour is trying to change the trend by providing a direct bridge between training and hiring. This approach, beyond just the image, could really redefine the standards of professional inclusion. And honestly, it was about time.