RetailDetail EU
Europe - EN
  • België - NL
  • Belgique - FR
  • Nederland - NL
  • Europe - EN
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Sign in user
  • News
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Electronics
    • Beauty/Care
    • DIY/Garden
    • Leisure
    • General
  • RetailDetail Plus
  • Events
  • Hunts
  • RetailHub
  • Advertising & Partnerships
    • EVENT PARTNERSHIPS
    • PRINT ADVERTISING
    • ONLINE ADVERTISING
RetailDetail EU
Europe - EN
  • België - NL
  • Belgique - FR
  • Nederland - NL
  • Europe - EN
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Sign in user
  • News
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Electronics
    • Beauty/Care
    • DIY/Garden
    • Leisure
    • General
  • RetailDetail Plus
  • Events
  • Hunts
  • RetailHub
  • Advertising & Partnerships
    • EVENT PARTNERSHIPS
    • PRINT ADVERTISING
    • ONLINE ADVERTISING
thumb
Written by Stefan Van Rompaey
In this article
  • Companies MakroWPP
  • Topics Marketing
Share article
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • email

Analysis – Decline of Makro was predictable, other retailers at risk too

icon
Food6 December, 2022
Shutterstock.com

Makro‘s demise was not unexpected: the brand was worn out, having lost 60 % of its loyal customer base since its peak in 2004. But other retailers are showing similar symptoms of illness…

Well known, not relevant (anymore)

“When you compare Makro to other super- and hypermarkets, consumers consider the brand to be ‘tired’. Makro is a well-established brand that can still count on a certain appreciation, but it lacks distinctiveness.” That is the hard conclusion Johan Hellemans of WPP Belgium bases on data from the Brand Asset Valuator (BAV for short), WPP’s measuring instrument that measures brands on four pillars: differentiation, relevance, appreciation and knowledge.

The conclusions are hard, but hardly surprising: “Makro is well-known, but not relevant (anymore). The things that consumers do know about the brand, are vague and unclear. In this case, brand awareness does not provide a competitive advantage. To resonate with consumers again, the brand should have clarified its essence. Makro is very vulnerable to (new) competitors that can deliver the same thing in a more distinctive way.”

Lost customers

In 2004, Makro was at its peak as a brand, it seems. From 2012, the brand lost its ability to grow, and from 2016 it lost status. During the pandemic, the brand lost its significance altogether. And then things go downhill fast, Hellemans shows: the number of lost customers is double the average standard in the market. The number of people who visit the shop regularly, has dropped by two thirds. And even for established brands, repeat customers are essential for a sustainable business.

Makro is chosen as a favourite brand 2.5 times less often than the average brand within its category. Only 21 % of consumers express some love for Makro, compared to 31 % as the sector average for hypermarkets, supermarkets and convenience stores. Makro scores below the sector average on all criteria, while in 2004 the brand still scored better than many competitors.

Similar profiles

“Makro scores low on such characteristics as being popular, original, trendy, up to date… The brand lacks ‘panache’. In ten years, Makro went from a popular, up-to-date and reliable brand to an unapproachable and distant, old-fashioned brand”, Hellemans concludes. Are there brands with a similar image profile in the market today? “There certainly are: Cora and Match, for example, but we also find similarly perceived brands within other sectors, such as Lukoil and Scarlet.” Whether they will run into similar problems depends on more factors than brand image alone, but they are warned now.

Carrefour and Aldi also have similarities – after all, there is also a category effect – but they still manage to differentiate themselves in other areas and can fall back on a strong customer base, which had eroded away at Makro. “In the current market, the main thing is to stay on top, so that competitors do not eat away at your customer base. We therefore advise clients to question their positioning and strategy more quickly and make adjustments if necessary.”

Do you also want to discover how shoppers view your brand? With the BrandAsset Valuator, you can find out everything you need to know about brands, consumers, market trends and much more. Moreover, the comprehensive report tells you how strong your brand really is in the market, or how much work remains to be done.

Order your brand report now to find out
Stay up-to-date

Receive our free newsletters and do not miss out on the latest retail news.

Subscribe
logo

Makro's demise was not unexpected: the brand was at its peak in 2004 and has since lost 60 % of its loyal customer base. But other retailers are also showing similar symptoms of distress...

More on Food
See more
  • icon
    Food29 March, 2023
    Wagamama reaches agreement with its creditors

    The Wagamama restaurant chain has reached an agreement with its creditors, allowing it to avoid bankruptcy.

  • icon
    Food24 March, 2023
    For the first time ever: Duvel goes discount

    For the first time in its history, Belgian beer Duvel is giving price discounts. The competition in the beer market is proving too hard to hold on to a non-discount policy.

  • icon
    Food24 March, 2023
    Makro auction earns trustees 2 million euros

    The inventory sale of the sixth and last Belgian Makro shop has been completed. It will bring the bankrupt chain a total of over two million euros. Meanwhile, the premises look rundown.

Events
  • 20
    Apr
    RetailDetail Congress
  • 11
    May
    Fashion & Beauty Congress
  • 15
    Jun
    Human Resources & People Congress
  • 29
    Jun
    Food Congress
Most read
  • icon
    Fashion3 March, 2023
    LVMH eager for luxury merger with Richemont
  • icon
    Fashion15 March, 2023
    Zara increases its competitive edge over H&M
  • icon
    Food7 March, 2023
    Delhaize to sell all Belgian stores
  • icon
    General29 March, 2023
    Alibaba splits into six different pieces
Follow RetailDetail
  • socialFacebook
  • socialTwitter
  • socialInstagram
  • sociallinkedIn
footer-logo
RetailDetail, the leading b2b-retailcommunity in the Benelux, keeps retail professionals up-to-date by means of online & offline publications, retail events, inspiring retail hunts and the unique co-creation platform retailhub, where retailers and their suppliers can experience the future of shopping.
RetailDetail Mailing Address:
Kolveniersstraat 7, bus 26 
2000 Antwerp
Visiting address:
Stadsfeestzaal – Meir 78 
2000 Antwerp
How to reach us:
Directions
© 2023 RetailDetail
general conditions | privacy policy
+32 3 500 89 59 info@retaildetail.be
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Accept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT