The French franchise network is preparing a showroom of more than 450 square metres in Rabat through a partnership with Moroccan group CERS, with further expansion planned in Tangier and West Africa.
RABAT — French kitchen and home furnishings retailer Cuisines AvivA has selected Morocco for a new phase of its international expansion, announcing plans for a showroom in Rabat and a subsequent opening in Tangier.
The expansion is being developed through a partnership with Moroccan group CERS, led by Zakaria Bouazzaoui, as the French retailer seeks to establish its kitchen and interior furnishings concept in new markets.
Michel Nicolas, AvivA's international development director, announced the Rabat project in late September 2026, describing it as a milestone following approximately 18 months of international expansion preparations.
The showroom, scheduled to open in October, will cover more than 450 square metres and offer fitted kitchens, bathrooms, dressing rooms and other home furnishings.
The precise opening date has not been independently confirmed.
The move provides AvivA with an entry into Morocco's specialist home furnishings market while introducing a business model intended to serve both individual households and property developers.
A French Franchise Network Enters Morocco
Founded in Annecy in 2000, AvivA has developed a network of more than 100 stores in France, built around fitted kitchens, accessible pricing and personalised design services.
The company reported a network of more than 118 stores in promotional materials published in 2025, although that figure should not be treated as a verified current total.
Its franchise model, introduced in 2007, has supported the expansion of the business beyond its original location.
International development has subsequently become a strategic priority.
AvivA established a presence in Martinique in 2024 and has identified Africa, the Middle East, South America and Eastern Europe as potential markets.
The Rabat project represents a further step in that programme, bringing the company's retail concept into the Moroccan market.
Nicolas said the planned opening would be followed by four additional international locations before the end of 2026, including Tangier, Cotonou in Benin and destinations in French overseas territories.
The company has not disclosed a complete schedule for those openings or confirmed that the additional stores have begun trading.
Zakaria Bouazzaoui and the Moroccan Partnership
CERS Group, led by Bouazzaoui, is the local partner behind AvivA's Moroccan development.
Nicolas publicly acknowledged the group's role in preparing the Rabat project, highlighting the partnership as part of the company's international expansion.
For a specialist retailer entering a new market, local partnerships can provide commercial knowledge, operational capacity and access to property networks.
The Rabat showroom will also include a dedicated business-to-business area designed to serve real estate developers and professional customers.
That feature distinguishes the project from a conventional consumer-focused kitchen store.
Alongside individual kitchen installations and home renovation projects, the company intends to pursue opportunities connected to residential property development.
Such contracts could involve supplying fitted kitchens and other interior products across multiple housing units, requiring coordinated design, delivery and installation services.
AvivA has not disclosed the investment associated with the project, its Moroccan ownership structure or the financial terms of the CERS partnership.
No revenue forecasts or employment commitments have been made public.
The Commercial Test Beyond France
AvivA's expansion into Morocco will test whether a retail formula developed in France can compete in a different consumer and property market.
The company promotes an approach combining personalised design, transparent pricing and products sourced through established suppliers, including German manufacturers.
Its newer AvivA Connect store concept places additional emphasis on digital tools, interior design and customer experience.
The Rabat showroom is intended to present the brand's latest format, although the company has not published detailed specifications confirming which AvivA Connect features will be installed.
Competition in Morocco will come from local kitchen specialists, independent designers and established home furnishings retailers.
Price, product quality, installation standards and after-sales support will be important considerations for customers.
The proposed business-to-business operation adds another challenge, with property development contracts potentially involving larger volumes, longer delivery schedules and different payment arrangements.
For AvivA, successful expansion will depend on building a reliable local operation rather than simply opening new showrooms.
The company has not announced a Moroccan manufacturing investment. Its current development programme is centred on retail distribution and the franchise business.
Morocco nevertheless offers the company an opportunity to establish a commercial presence that could support its wider African ambitions.
The Rabat launch will be an important test of AvivA's ability to adapt its French retail model to Morocco, while its partnership with CERS provides a local foundation for expansion beyond its domestic market.
Martino Oosterveer, Contributing Editor