Cewe is the European leader in photo printing, and its partners in the French large distribution are, like every year, prepared for a peak of activity as Christmas approaches on its 3,500 terminals. A little -known business for a very popular service.
Present in more than 2,000 points of sale of partners spread across the country, CEWE terminals offer a photo printing service, especially for the end of year celebrations, a key moment for the market, which recorded a big peak of activity during this period. Particularly since the end of Covid-19, a return of physical photography is underway and demand for photo printing has grown. Photo print, creation of photo books and various derivative products online, but also immediate prints at in-store photo printing terminals are on the rise. Today in France, the market is worth 500 million euros and records growth of 3 to 4% each year. “With the advent of smartphones, never have so many photos been taken as today. If many of these photos only have a digital existence, more and more French people, all generations combined, keen to keep track of their best memories, turn to printing to bring their photos to life. A dynamic that brings our activity to the French and European market”, declares Laurence Courtinat-Vernon, president of CEWE France and Spain.
E.Leclerc and Système U, its oldest partners
Created in Germany in 1961, CEWE is a leading European photo printing entrepreneurial group (photo books, wall decorations, calendars, photo prints, cards…). The group now has more than 4,000 employees in 21 countries and prints in its 14 European laboratories.. In France, where it has been present for almost fifty years, CEWE is the national leader in mass distribution photo printing. For twenty years, CEWE forms partnerships with major retail players to offer their customers a photo printing service online and via in-store terminals. Very quickly, Girl, which offers a smooth service, fast, omnichannel and quality, convinced major players to entrust him with photo printing for their clients. The E.Leclerc and Système U brands are the brand’s oldest partners. In addition to these two historical partners, CEWE also collaborates with stores formerly under the Cora brand, Intermarket, France Leisure, Franprix and Auchan. So, CEWE has 3,500 terminals distributed in more than 2,000 points of sale throughout France, covering all departments (including Reunion). This vast territorial network makes CEWE the French leader in the mass distribution photo printing market., with more than 50% market share in 2024.
Innovation and environmental impact
All CEWE photo book printing papers are FSC certified, some products offer the use of recycled paper, and the carbon emissions of all CEWE brand products are offset, notably through a reforestation project. In 2024, CEWE was elected “best photo service” for the seventh consecutive year by the TIPA World Awards, which recognize the most innovative products in the global photography industry, for free-form stickers printable from CEWE terminals.
