Dutch retailer Jumbo has announced that it plans to open its first stores in Belgium in the fourth quarter of this year.
Announcing its full-year results for 2018, the retailer said that it has sourced 'several dozen supermarket locations' for the stores and set up a separate organisation, Jumbo Belgium, to cater for the new operations in the country.
Sales Performance
Jumbo reported 2018 sales of €7.82 billion, an increase of €683 million (9.6%) on the previous year.
The retailer saw sales at its main Jumbo Supermarkets division increase by €395 million, to €7.4 billion – an increase of 5.6%. Organic growth at its Jumbo outlets was 3.8%, which was about twice that of the market, the retailer said.
Elsewhere, its La Place food business reported €150 million worth of sales for the business, while the EMTÉ supermarkets that the business acquired from Sligro during the summer reported €262 million worth of sales.
Jumbo currently operates a total of 618 outlets across the Netherlands, with the past year bringing 12 new-store openings and two closures, as well as the conversion of 23 EMTÉ supermarkets.
The group said that, as a result of its performance last year, it now holds a share of more than 20% in the Dutch market.
Jumbo Food College
Jumbo used the announcement to introduce Jumbo Food College, a 'cross-fertilisation' between its Jumbo and La Place businesses, which will be a knowledge and training centre for employees at both businesses, focusing on innovation and inspiration.
"Jumbo has always had the focus on the customer, and has thus grown alongside their needs," said Frits van Eerd, Jumbo's chief executive.
"The cross-fertilisation between Jumbo and La Place is a success, and that's why we are going to use this more and more in our regular stores and in Jumbo City. We are thus introducing a movement from food retail to food experience. Everything revolves around convenience, inspiration and innovation," added van Eerd.
© 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.
