Frans Muller: “Franchising Delhaize is the only option”

Ahold Delhaize remains 100% convinced of the move to a franchise model at Delhaize. CEO Frans Muller also believes that the worst of the opposition is over, now that all stores are open again.

Belgium is “not very flexible”

The transformation project at Delhaize, where the 128 supermarkets still under company control would be sold to franchisers, has the full support of the management of Ahold Delhaize. The multinational wants to improve the efficiency of the entire group, and Delhaize’s plans are part of that. “Today, 636 shops are already franchised,” said the CEO, and a complete shift to franchising remains the only way forward.