Fashion
Martijn Rozenboom has acquired five Dutch chains of the bankrupt FNG group. The Belgian stores, meanwhile, are still waiting for more news about their fate.
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Just days after their Belgian counterparts, the Dutch constituents of FNG have also been declared bankrupt. According to the fashion group, its chains like Miss Etam, Expresso and Claudia Sträter will stand a better chance of a second life this way.
Food
Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo is restructuring its restaurant business La Place: 23 restaurants, or more than a quarter of all establishments, are closing due to the corona crisis.
Willem Olsthoorn, co-founder of children's clothing brand Oilily, passed away last Wednesday. The label was mainly known for its colourful designs and gained international fame. Olsthoorn turned 81.
British-Dutch conglomerate Unilever wants to simplify its structure and chooses the British side, siding with important shareholders. This ends almost a century of dual structure.
As of today, JDE Peet's, the parent company of Douwe Egberts and Senseo, is listed on the stock market. The company has raised 2.25 billion euros already, making it the largest IPO of the year.
General
In several European countries, such as the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, consumers are (soon) less likely to need their PIN code if they pay contactless in shops. By raising the amount for which PIN confirmation is needed, the risk of contamination is reduced.
Amazon would (finally) launch its complete webshop in the Netherlands next week, according to statements to several media offices. Currently, Amazon.nl is only a Kindle and book shop.
Electronics
Dutch electronics giant Philips is going to divest its household appliances division. As such, the manufacturer is will soon say goodbye to its vacuum cleaners, coffee makers and irons.
Today sees the start of the Belgian Deliveroo trial, regarding the status of couriers, some of whom are still self-employed. The CEO of the delivery company's Belgian branch has threatened to end his activities.
The social unrest in France has caused Fnac Darty to have a disappointing fourth quarter. It also became known in the margins that the company is looking for a partner for its Dutch subsidiary BCC.
Spanish sustainable fashion brand Ecoalf continues its expansion abroad: after its first foreign store opening in Berlin in 2017, it has now arrived in Amsterdam.
Canadian retailer Hudson's Bay Company has seen its sales and gross operating profit shrink in the third quarter of 2019. On the bright side, the company has reached a settlement with a Dutch landlord regarding its intended withdrawal from the Netherlands.
Swedish fashion retailer H&M has started offering home deliveries by bike. The chain's Dutch customers are the very first to have the choice of having their orders delivered by bicycle courier.
The Dutch branch of the Hudson's Bay department store chain has requested deferment of payment. It is unclear whether the stores will remain open until the intended date, 31 December.
Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo has reprimanded a store manager who wanted to let his employees pay a fine if they let customers waiting for too long, after a social media backlash.
