French supermarkets keeping masks from hospitals raises question

This past week French supermarkets and stores have promised to make millions of masks available for purchase to citizens across the country to protect them from the COVID-19 virus.  There is a question being raised wondering where all of these deliveries are coming from since there has been an extreme shortage of these supplies.  Once these masks became available Government officials are wondering where all these masks were when hospitals were calling for more masks.  A theory that is starting to gain some traction is that these stores have been stockpiling these masks for months.  These stores are defending themselves assuring that this is not the case and that they rather are receiving shipments just like everyone else.  Another theory that the government is considering that seems to be very shocking is that the stores have the power to get these shipments faster and before the state department which include hospitals.  It does seem a little suspicious of how these stores have acquired such a heavy inventory of masks all of the sudden but it could just be a coincidence.  There is a further investigation going on regarding the manner.

Source: https://www.france24.com/en/20200505-covid-19-sale-of-masks-in-french-supermarkets-sparks-controversy