French urban retailer Franprix has entered the Belgian market, after opening its first store in the capital city of Brussels last month.
The retail banner, which is part of Groupe Casino, already operates nearly 900 points of sale in France, with stores in Paris and other major cities.
The new 300 square metre Brussels store, which is located in the Ixelles district, will offer a range of gourmet and food-to-go products, including Belgian and French specialities.
It will feature nearly 4,500 products, 90% of which come from Belgium, as well as Franprix private-label ranges.
"We are very happy to open our first store in Belgium, in this effervescent capital of Brussels," said Jean-Paul Mochet, managing director of Franprix.
"Our aim is to provide services and product offerings adapted to urban people in a hurry, to quickly meet their needs."
Convenience Retail
Franprix first launched its 'Mandarin' convenience store concept in Paris three years ago, and has since expanded its retail offering.
The new Brussels store will offer a wide range of sandwiches, salads, fresh produce, coffee, juices, salads, and ready-to-cook meals, and will also include a hot counter, featuring pizza, quiches, pies and cooked chicken.
It will also sell a wide range of product in bulk - such as seeds, cereals, lentils, rice - so that customers can buy as much as they need, and cut down on food and packaging waste.
"With our innovative products and services, we hope to conquer the hearts of Brussels residents," added Mochet.
Earlier this month, Groupe Casino reported that consolidated trading profit was up 20.1% to €1.24 billion last year, boosted by ‘sound standing profitability' at its Franprix and Monoprix banners.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Sarah Harford. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
