Bike Republic (Colruyt Group) acquires four Belgian BikeFriend stores

Bike Republic, the Colruyt Group’s bicycle retail chain, is acquiring four Flemish BikeFriend stores from the Dutch bicycle group CycloVriend, which has decided to withdraw from Belgium.

Continuity guaranteed

The Dutch bicycle group CycloVriend now intends to focus entirely on the Dutch market, including through its retail chain and online store Fietsvoordeelshop. Earlier this year, the company closed a Belgian store in Schoten, and now the four remaining locations in Ghent, Hasselt, Leuven, and Turnhout are being sold to Bike Republic. According to the website Nieuwsfiets.nu, an evaluation reportedly showed that growth opportunities in Belgium are limited. The stores will remain open during the transition period.

“With this decision, we are sharpening our focus on our core activities and can direct our people, resources, and investments toward opportunities where we can create the most long-term value for customers, employees, and our organization. The proposed acquisition by Bike Republic ensures continuity for customers,” says Ton Anbeek, CEO of CycloVriend.

The company BikeFriend Belgium posted a net loss of 2.3 million euros last year. As a result, the cumulative deficit rose to 5.8 million euros, according to the business newspaper De Tijd. The Belgian bicycle market is in a phase of consolidation, with chains such as Lucien, Wildiers, and Bike Republic growing through acquisitions. On the other hand, the Dutch-based Dynamo Retail Group sees opportunities in this trend: this year, the retailer is opening six Bike Totaal stores in Belgium. With its soft franchise model, the company aims to take the pressure off independent entrepreneurs. Its goal is to have 50 stores by the end of 2030.