In 1988, there were no discount shops in France; today there are more than 4,300. With inflation, the French are looking for bargains. Stores such as Action, Normal, Netto and Noz are thriving by offering products at low prices. From warehouses in Denmark to shopping centres in France and Belgium, this report goes behind the scenes of these retailers and explores the boundaries of their business model.

How are they able to lower their prices? What strategies do they use to make us consume more and more? Is it possible to shop at knock-down prices without financing a model that exhausts both people and the planet?