As a part of RetailDetail’s (re)new(ed) efforts to offer the world a view into the retail sector in the Benelux, we proudly present an English language summary of this week’s retail news in the Benelux. Where available, the summary links to full English language articles; otherwise there will be (NL) links for Dutch versions and (FR) for French versions.
Major Benelux news
* 19 December was the best day in the history of Benelux eCommerce (20 Dec) NL/FR
* Discount chain Action finally also buys directly from major brands (20 Dec) NL/FR
* 79% of Dutch, 66% of Belgian internauts shops online says Eurostat (22 Dec) NL/FR
* Increasing number of enterprises allow workers to get Christmas presents delivered at work (22 Dec) NL/FR
* French Intermarché closes last store in Flanders (23 Dec) NL
* Former owner buys back webshop Dutch fonQ (19 Dec) NL/FR
New concepts
* Antwerp designer Bruno Pieters opens first store of his brand Honest By (22 Dec) NL/FR
* New Dutch store formula combines pop-up and outlet to tackle vacancy problem (22 Dec) NL
Takeovers
* Franco-Belgian Orchestra-Prémaman acquires Destination Maternity to approach global market leader’s spot (22 Dec) NL/FR
* Spadel acquires Bulgarian market leader Devin AD in its biggest acquisiton ever (20 Dec) NL/FR
* Sligro wants Christmas gifts company Tintelingen (22 Dec) NL
Changes at the top
* Kevin Kaeses new head of Cash Converters Belgium (20 Dec) NL/FR
Bankruptcies
* Company that wanted to rebuild Neckermann.com goes bankrupt (22 Dec) NL/FR
And also
* German shoe brand Tamaris launches Belgian and Dutch (and 12 other countries’) website (19 Dec) NL/FR
* MS Mode relaunches Belgian and Dutch website (22 Dec) NL
* Brussels shopping center Neo one step closer to last permits (23 Dec) NL
* Zalando tests delivery on Sunday in Belgium (19 Dec) NL/FR
* Mechelen joins its retailers on interactive city map (22 Dec) NL
* New shopping centre in Kampenhout’s former chicory auction houses? (22 Dec) NL
* Most former employees of bankrupt Dutch chain V&D have found a new job (20 Dec) NL
* Struggles with unions over working circumstances in Belgian Lidls (20 Dec) NL/FR and Dutch Ikeas (19 Dec) NL
* Dutch Bike clothing shop MKC expands to Belgium (20 Dec) NL
* Dutch is, before Spanish, the fourth most important language for web shops (20 Dec) NL
