Albert Heijn raises profit in Belgium

Despite a lower turnover in Belgium, Albert Heijn has raised its profits by 40% to 5.7 million euro. The chain plans to keep on expanding despite its merger with local powerhouse Delhaize. 

Forced sale

Last year, Albert Heijn reached a turnover of 364 million euro, 4% less than in 2016. The decrease in turnover was to be expected, Belgian business paper De Tijd said, as the chain had to sell seven stores in order to get permission of the Belgian competition watchdog for its merger with Albert Heijn’s owner Ahold. 

The Dutch chain currently has 38 stores in Belgium, with three more planned for this autumn. All three are franchise stores, allowing headquarters to keep costs under control. This strategy even allows the retailer to keep on expanding, with dozens of planned Belgian stores still under consideration.