Two leading supermarket chains in Belgium, Delhaize and Carrefour, have announced plans to offer discounts on hundreds of products.
In ads published in all major Belgian newspapers, Delhaize announced that it is offering discounts on hundreds of private-label products from the end of this week.
Delhaize spokesperson Roel Dekelver added that the prices of around 1,000 private-label SKUs will be reduced.
The retailer's low-cost brand for basic products, Les Petits Lions, will see a 10% to 30% price cut on around 500 SKUs.
Carrefour Belgium
Carrefour Belgium has also reduced the prices of a range of products in its Express, Market, and hypermarket stores, and via its Carrefour.be online platform.
Until 10 September, promotions will be offered on school supplies, food, and non-food purchases. Many fruits and vegetables will be sold for less than €1, with shoppers also able to earn additional loyalty points from purchases.
If customers find a back-to-school item cheaper elsewhere, Carrefour will reimburse five times the price difference in Bonus points.
Additionally, Carrefour is launching numerous promotions on private-label products in its supermarkets and hypermarkets.
These initiatives by Delhaize and Carrefour follow measures implemented in recent weeks by discounters Aldi and Lidl, who are also playing the low-price card in the context of high inflation.
Simplified Store Concept
Elsewhere, Lidl is planning to simplify its store concept in Belgium, with the aim of ensuring that all 310 stores in the country have the same layout.
Isabelle Colbrandt, the spokesperson for Lidl Belgium, explained to Flemish daily Het Laatste Nieuws that the aim is for customers to immediately recognise a Lidl store's template when they enter.
"Whether in Lommel or Antwerp, you will encounter the bakery, fruit, and vegetable department first when you enter the store," she told the paper.
The initiative also aims to boost efficiency among employees, the discounter said.
It follows a similar project in Germany, where Lidl opted for a no-frills approach, based on a simple interior, closer to the hard discount model.
