How Sligro realised its Belgian dream after five years

Metro becomes Sligro in Belgium, a change that the Dutch wholesaler is eagerly anticipating. But what to expect from this stock market listed company, whose rise has been far from smooth?

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For years it looked like a David versus Goliath battle: local Dutch foodservice wholesaler Sligro versus German multinational Metro. The announcement of Sligo’s arrival in Belgium in 2015 therefore raised some eyebrows. The opening of a branch in Antwerp was hampered for a long time by competitors, while the start-up costs were high. It was not until the end of 2018 that the impressive premises were finally able to open for business.