In June, the family-owned French chain Auchan said it had been approached by Wal-Mart.

Summer rates for a standard room, double occupancy, would be $209 to $399 in this 29-story, 398-room hotel that is part of a French chain.

Galeries Lafayette, the French chain, offered $4 million plus the value of inventory to buy the lease of the flagship store.

It is now second, behind Quick, a French chain with an English name.

That Sofitel, the French chain, should install one of its new luxury hotels in Washington seems only fitting.

FNAC is another large chain, originally French.

But several months ago the Sofitel, part of a French chain catering to business travelers, opened at No. 45.

Mr. Bricolage is a French retail chain offering home improvement and do-it-yourself goods.

Netto is a French chain of hard discount stores owned by the Les Mousquetaires group.

In 2008 Once Upon a Time was listed as the 864th greatest album of all time by the French retail chain Fnac.