Galeries Lafayette’s Majority Owner, Ginette Moulin, Passes Away at 98
Ginette Moulin, the majority owner of the iconic Parisian department store Galeries Lafayette, has passed away at the age of 98, the company confirmed on Tuesday.
The granddaughter of Théophile Bader, who co-founded the luxury retail landmark in 1894, Moulin played a significant role in preserving and expanding the family legacy.
A Life Dedicated to Business and Culture
With an estimated net worth of €4.05 billion ($4.18 billion), Moulin and her family ranked among France’s wealthiest, holding the 34th spot on the Challenges magazine list.
Throughout her lifetime, she witnessed six generations of leadership at the flagship store in Paris’ Opéra district. Galeries Lafayette described her as “a passionate supporter of the arts and culture, deeply committed to fostering creativity.”
Moulin’s family history was marked by resilience. Her father, Max Heilbronn, was arrested in 1943 and sent to the Buchenwald concentration camp, where he met Étienne Moulin, who later became Ginette’s husband. Together, they had three children.
Challenges in Retail and Strategic Shifts
Beyond its Paris location, Galeries Lafayette operates 56 stores across France, with 18 directly managed and 38 run through partnerships. However, the shift toward online shopping, intensified by pandemic restrictions, has impacted the company’s traditional retail model.
Facing financial pressures, the group announced plans to close two locations in Marseille due to continued losses. In 2023, it also spun off another historic Parisian store, Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville (BHV), near the Marais district.
Despite these changes, Galeries Lafayette remains committed to reviving sales and returning to pre-pandemic levels, reaffirming its place as a symbol of French retail excellence.
