Albert Heijn has managed an important deal in the Dutch supermarket landscape, taking control of southern chain Jan Linders. The family-owned company will continue as an Albert Heijn franchiser.
Sixty years
For the Ahold Delhaize subsidiary, who originates in North-Holland, this was an excellent opportunity to boost its presence in the south of the country. Even though not all 63 stores are part of the deal, it still consists of more than fifty stores and one distribution centre.
Moreover, Jan Linders takes over ten existing Albert Heijn supermarkets in the southeast of the Netherlands. The stores should all be converted into the new format by the end of next year, Albert Heijn says in a press release, provided that competition watchdog ACM gives a timely approval.
Jan Linders, which was founded in 1963, narrowly misses out on sixty years of existence as an independent chain. The retailer will also have to exit purchase alliance Superunie as a result of the deal.
