Colruyt Group

Although sales will increase slightly this year, Colruyt Group expects a significantly lower profit due to rising raw material prices and increasing price competition. CEO Jef Colruyt said this at the shareholders meeting.

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.

Increasingly, brands and retailers are willing to take a decisive stand: "Social responsibility is high on the agenda of managers, employees and consumers. There has been a structural change", Vlerick Business School's Gino Van Ossel thinks.

Three years ago, Dobbi started as a laundry and dry-cleaning service for individuals. Today, the platform is profiling itself as a partner for fashion retailers who want to become more sustainable. After the Netherlands and Belgium, the rest of the world is set to follow.

The first product with the Eco-Score on its packaging has recently hit the shelves at Colruyt. In the short term, about 35 other products of private label Boni Selection will receive the score.

Colruyt Group acquires the shares of the minority shareholders in Newpharma. In doing so, the family of the same name acquires full control over the web pharmacy.

Since the beginning of this month a test has been running at Colruyt concerning morning and evening work. The intention is to collect orders for its pick-up service Collect & Go outside the stores' opening hours.