Netherlands-based wholesaler Sligro Food Group has announced that a final agreement has been reached to carry out Heineken’s logistics operations for the Dutch hospitality sector.
As part of the agreement, Sligro will process, store and deliver beer and cider orders placed by the hospitality sector or Heineken, creating a one-stop shop for all beverages, food and non-food orders for the beer company and Sligro hospitality customers, according to Sligro.
The agreement will not include the delivery of tank beer, which Heineken will continue to do, Sligro added.
This follows an investigation by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM), which approved the deal in September. The proposed partnership was initially announced back in May 2017.
'Special Partnership'
This partnership will make Heineken Sligro’s number one partner for beer and cider, the wholesaler said. In addition to beer and cider deliveries, the brewer has sold the wholesale operations of other food and non-food ranges, including soft drinks, waters, spirits, wines, tea and coffee to Sligro.
The partnership has a term of 15 years. The parties have decided not to make any statements regarding purchasing price and the value of the contracts, according to Sligro.
“We’re proud that both market leaders are entering into this special partnership,” said Koen Slippens, CEO Sligro. “There will now be an intensive start-up phase, followed by an integration period that will take three to four years.”
“To make combined beverage and drink deliveries a reality, over the next few years we will be investing around €80 to €100 million in an integrated state-of-the-art distribution network,” he added. “We expect to be able to achieve full synergy.”
“This partnership means that both parties can join forces with the aim of providing our customers with even better service,” said Pascal Gilet, managing director of Heineken Netherlands. “2018 will primarily be a transition year in which we will gradually see the benefits for our joint customers, whilst maintaining quality and maximum service levels.”
“At Heineken Netherlands, we are looking forward to concentrating fully on our core competencies: brewing, packaging, selling and building fantastic beer and cider brands,” Gilet added.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Kevin Duggan. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
