Dutch retailer Jumbo will open its first three Belgian stores, in Rijkevorsel, Pelt and Lanaken, this autumn, following the establishment of the group's new Belgium head office in Brasschaat earlier this year.
The group plans to open 12 to 15 supermarkets in Belgium, chiefly Flanders, next year, while in the longer term, it said that it sees the potential for at least 100 stores in the country.
Turnover Gains
The group made the announcement at it unveiled its first half figures, which showed a turnover increase of 16.5% to €4.63 billion, with €4.46 billion of this attributed to its main Jumbo banner.
Some €83 million was reported by the group's La Place banner, up 5%, while the not-yet-converted EMTÉ stores contributed €85 million to its first half performance.
The addition of the EMTÉ stores helped boost the group's market share to 21.6%, it's highest to date.
"Our strategy to surprise customers with a food experience is increasingly bearing fruit," commented CEO Frits van Eerd. “Customers embrace this movement. While shopping, they want to gain more and more inspiration: smell, taste, get new ideas, eat on the spot."
van Eerd said that this phenomenon explains the success of its Jumbo Foodmarkt formula, with seven such stores now open around the Netherlands, and some of the Foodmarkt concepts now appearing in its wider store portfolio.
"We observe that the customer is spending more due to the extra experience that we offer," he added.
Store Revamp
Some 20 stores were renovated in the first six months of 2019, the group said, while another 20 stores will be overhauled between now and the end of the year. Between January and June, 44 new stores were added to its portfolio, including the remaining EMTÉ stores, as well as stores operated by former Plus entrepreneur Geert Benders.
It has extended its Jumbo City convenience store concept to seven locations, with the opening of a second store in Den Bosch.
A further two Jumbo City stores are expected to open between now and the end of the year, as well as five new Jumbo supermarkets.
Since the half year concluded, Jumbo has also announced plans to the over six stores operated by the cooperative CZAV, under the Agrimarkt banner. This transaction, which was announced last week, is subject to competition approval.
In July, it announced new cooperation agreements to further develop its e-commece platforms, which will run for a period of three years, while it is also currently in the process of developing a new, fully-automated distribution centre in Nieuwegein, which is expected to open in the second quarter of 2020.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
