This week in Benelux retail: thousands of jobs created, despite high-profile bankruptcies

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

• Liège Shopping centre Médiacité bought by American real estate fund (30 Dec) NL/FR 
• Coolblue to unite 300+ different web shops (28 Dec) NL/FR
• 2016 in Dutch retail: 5000 jobs created, despite series of high-profile bankruptcies (29 Dec) NL
• “It was never the intention to let MS Mode fail” (29 Dec) NL/FR 
• New record in electronic payments this Christmas (26 Dec) NL/FR 
• Delhaize too ventures into meal boxes (23 Dec) NL/FR

Takeovers

• A new chance for Antwerp’s failed container shopping centre? (30 Dec) NL
• Brussels court appoints shopping centres in Namur and Verviers to ‘new’ owners (27 Dec) NL/FR

Changes at the top

• Brand manager Onno de Groot leaves Dutch supermarket chain Emté (29 Dec) NL

Bankruptcies

• Neckermann.com stores follow sibling company Readen into bankruptcy (27 Dec) NL/FR 

Farewell to 2016!

• 2016 in five FMCG trends (29 Dec) NL
• Most popular articles on retaildetail.be (30 Dec) NL/FR 
• Belgian trade federation’s CEO looks back and forward (27 Dec) NL/FR
• Biggest newcomers in Belgian shopping streets are Dutch and cosmetics chains (29 Dec) NL/FR
• Most popular articles on retaildetail.nl (30 Dec) NL
• What happened in food retail in 2016? (28 Dec) NL
• Most popular articles on retaildetail.eu (30 Dec, EN only)

And also

• Dutch supermarkets must have senior staff in liquor department at any time (29 Dec) NL
• AB InBev-owning families create new juices division (28 Dec) NL/FR
• Lingerie brand La fille d’O launches ‘regular’ clothing brand (27 Dec) NL/FR 
• Discovery: closing your doors for winter’s cold does not stop customers from entering (27 Dec) NL/FR 
• Philips forced to close webshop after a discount action goes terribly wrong (29 Dec) NL/FR
• Government to ask public opinion on sales and pre-sales periods (28 Dec) NL/FR
• Belgian opticians need to be more transparent on pricing (27 Dec) NL/FR
• Factory making sauces from food waste “gets enough praise, but no offers” (27 Dec) NL
• Deliveroo Belgium wants to make its own meals (28 Dec) NL/FR
• Amsterdam to get diary farm in city centre? (30 Dec) NL
• Dutch food industry organisation: “Adding sugar and salt to canned vegetables is essential” (30 Dec) NL
• Brussels to offer free parking in public spaces during two shopping days (30 Dec) NL/FR 
• Hornbach Netherlands speeds up pick-up and delivery service (27 Dec) NL