Cosmetics
Cosmetics chain Rituals plans to open hundreds of new stores over the coming years, to reach 1,040 stores by the end of 2021. The average surface area of the shops is also set to increase considerably.
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General
The owner of Dutch retail chain Action, British investment company 3i, announced in its half-yearly figures that the discounter is now worth more than 10 billion euros. Last year, the value of the retailer was estimated at 'just' 6.5 billion.
Furniture
Their first Belgian store has only just opened, but already French home decoration discounter Centrakor aims for a nationwide expansion. CEO Olivier Rondolotto is already entirely convinced: a dozen stores in the French speaking part of Belgium is only the precursor to a conquest of Flanders.
Belgian chain Medi-Market has opened its first French store in Roncq, near the border with Belgium. The drugstore chain is also soon to open more stores in Italy, as it aims to profit from advantages of operating on a European scale.
Food
Belgian praline producer Leonidas intends to open 150 new stores in France over the next five years, starting with about twenty in the very near future.
Fashion
Dutch textile discounter Zeeman is going to close several dozens of stores in the Netherlands over the coming years. Growth will therefore have to come from e-commerce and new stores abroad, especially in Southern Europe.
Belgian online pharmacy Viata has raised 3.8 million euros to finance its international growth. The money comes from Antwerp-based family business Alcopa and a new loan.
Dutch glasses discounter Eyelove is going to expand into France. The company wants to capitalise on a new healthcare law that is entering into force next year, which obliges opticians to also offer cheaper pairs of glasses.
Over the past year, textile discounter Zeeman has once again seen its turnover and profit rise. The company is identifying many opportunities for growth, in particular in Spain.
Dutch women's fashion brand Miss Etam is starting to trade in Germany under the name Miss E. In the beginning, the brand that belongs to the Belgian FNG Group will only open an online shop in Germany, but the brand hopes to be able to open physical stores in the future.
Over the next two years, a new Aldi is to open almost every week in Great Britain. The fast-growing discounter wants a hundred more new stores.
Intermarché wants to further strengthen its position in Belgium, both through new stores and through the expansion of existing stores. With the new Intermarché Express brand, the musketeers are aiming at the city centres.
Ikea wants to invest heavily in its Chinese store network. The fact that many Chinese like to visit the stores to take a nap, is alright for the Swedes.
Belgian supermarket chain Colruyt has announced it wants to open five to seven French stores per year, in order to reach a scale that would make its French activities profitable.
Belgian online pharmacy Newpharma wants to double its turnover every three years, and looks to Southern Europe for growth as those markets are not mature yet.
Spain could potentially house 250 Zeeman stores. Its 43 outlets are performing remarkably well and new ones are being opened in quick succession.
