Félix Potin

Félix Potin is the name of a French businessman and his eponymous mass-distribution retail business, founded in the mid-nineteenth century.

While the business was bought out and then collapsed in the second half of the twentieth century, the brand has been revived by a contemporary distribution network.

The business continued to grow after its founder's death, with a second factory in 1880 and a second large shop on Rue de Rennes in 1904.

After a period of poor management, this business collapsed and was liquidated in 1996, with the Promodès chain buying a few of the points of sale.

Frank Winfield Woolworth's eponymous five-and-dime chain in the US was, to some extent, a revival and development of Potin's model.