As of today, British coffee brand Costa Coffee is also active in Belgium. Owner Coca-Cola has launched its coffee brand in the hospitality industry and through vending machines. However, there will be no separate Costa Coffee bars (for now).

Dutch online-only supermarket Picnic has secured an investment of 600 million euros to speed up its European expansion. Investors include current stakeholders and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust.

Turning cultured meat into the norm is the goal of Josh Tetrick and his company Eat Just. Just like physical CDs, which were pushed out of the market entirely by streaming services, he also wants to make meat from animals the exception to the rule.

Primark has promised to significantly increase its efforts to produce more sustainable clothing over the next ten years. At the same time, the fashion discounter does not want to compromise on its pricing strategy: many experts have serious questions about this, especially now that the chain may (finally) be taking on e-commerce.

H&M's sales rose less than expected in the three months leading up to the end of August and remained well below the pre-pandemic levels. Covid restrictions are still keeping many shoppers away from stores.

The world's largest fashion retailer has weathered the impact of the Covid crisis: Inditex, the parent company of chains like Zara, saw its sales rise above pre-Covid levels and is again profitable.

The Covid pandemic caused major shifts in consumer spending: last year, Belgians spent significantly more money on food and alcohol and much less on clothes.

Hearing specialist Lapperre is launching a new, accessible retail concept in Belgium: World of Hearing, a centre that consumers can visit without any purchase obligation or appointment. After the first branch in Ghent, more will follow soon.

As tourist shops selling chocolate and souvenirs have started expanding to the city's main shopping streets, Bruges' city council wants to ban new such shops from opening in many locations. In this way, the Belgian city wants to safeguard the diversity of its store range.

Nomad Foods, owner of such brands as Birds Eye, Findus and Iglo, has teamed up with American company BlueNalu to develop fish products based on cell culture in a laboratory.

Furniture chain Ikea has given its Arlon branch a new look: at the crossroads between Belgium, France and Luxembourg, and in an area full of expatriates, the home furnishings store will offer an adapted range.

Online spending in Belgium rose significantly in the first half of 2021, as the travel and events sector returns to normal. Food spending is also on the rise, but the parcel delivery sector is experiencing a slowdown. 

When it comes to shopper marketing, “experience” is often a misunderstood term: shoppers do not primarily come to a shop to waste their time with events. In order to find out what they do want, you need to invest in insights and analysis. "Understanding shopper behaviour is so important, and yet undervalued."

Despite the Covid crisis and the forced store closures it caused, Denmark's Jysk closed its financial year with a record turnover of 4.39 billion euros.

Alipay, an app which a billion Chinese people use to pay, is being split up by the Chinese government. Why is Alibaba's hugely popular and profitable payment service under such scrutiny?

After a strong recovery earlier this year, Irish fashion chain Primark has had to cope with disappointing sales over the summer months, primarily due to the health crisis. The retailer also faces supply chain delays.

Colruyt Group is going to equip its new Newpharma distribution centre in Liège with high-tech robotics applications. In doing so, the group unites the specialisations of two other subsidiaries.

On 16 September, Ikea will host its first online festival comprising virtual events, home concerts and workshops. The home furnishing chain will also present its new collection for spring 2022.

Barely a few days after Carrefour announced it had taken a minority stake in French start-up Cajoo, the supermarket chain has announced the launch of its own express delivery service in France.

It looks like the long-running takeover battle between two American investors for British supermarket group Morrisons will finally be decided through a seldom-used auction process.

The Covid crisis has fundamentally changed the behaviour of shoppers. In a rapidly changing retail environment, shopper marketing demands a fresh look at shopping experience, segmentation, and retail communication. "Prepare yourself for the new customer journey."

Dutch chocolate producer Tony’s Chocolonely has started a subscription service for chocolate in the Netherlands. Each month, members receive a box with bars in three flavours.

Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo plans to bring its city-centre concept Jumbo City to Belgium. On 15 December, the first such store should open in Antwerp.

Amazon is expanding its till-free shopping experience to its Whole Foods supermarkets, introducing its Just walk out technology there as well.

French streetwear brand Projet X Paris has announced its expansion to Belgium, with six stores at once. All six are in Gallimo's Shopping Cora centres in Wallonia and Brussels.

For the first time, an existing Delhaize supermarket is turned into one of its sister chain Albert Heijn. The beginning of a trend, or a solitary case? The latter, the Belgian retailer says decidedly.

A year after introducing its new store concept in the country, The Body Shop is now also expanding its online store to Belgium.

A new report points (once again) to the devastating impact the meat industry has on the environment and climate. The twenty largest producers of meat and dairy products combined emit 932 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, more than the whole of Germany and about twice as much as France.

Retailhub is ready to kick off. The new knowledge lab in the Stadsfeestzaal, Antwerp, is open and welcomes the retail community with open arms. Retailhub is more than ever there to help you act and think. Yes, in that order, emphasises founder Jorg Snoeck.