DEEN supermarkets on display

DEEN reached an agreement with Albert Heijn, Vomar Voordeelmarkt and DekaMarkt about the intention to sell all 80 stores of DEEN Supermarkten to these three parties. The intention is that of the 80 stores, 39 will receive the Albert Heijn formula, 22 the Vomar Voordeelmarkt formula and 19 the DekaMarkt formula. The parties involved share the North Holland background with DEEN and have a long track record. 

To remain a leader in the rapidly changing and competitive food retail market, according to the management of DEEN substantial efforts are needed in the coming years. With a view to the future, the supermarket chain should invest heavily in the mechanization of logistics and e-commerce. The size of the necessary investments made the family decide, in consultation with the management, to make another strategic choice and to sell the company.

Social plan and job retention

What the takeover exactly means for the employees of DEEN, will be announced as soon as the social plan has been agreed with unions and works councils. All supermarket employees will retain their jobs. If the activities are not continued by the purchasing parties, redeployment opportunities for the employees concerned will be examined. In the tradition of the Deen family, the aim is to reach good agreements with and arrangements for employees. 

Logical step

According to Managing Director Leendert van Eck, who has managed the group since 2016, the takeover is therefore a difficult but logical step. We have built up a beautiful company and thanks to the hard work of our employees and our loyal customer base we can look back on wonderful years. To be future-proof, substantial financial efforts are necessary, but the family has made a different choice,' van Eck believes.

Conditions and process 

The transactions are subject to customary conditions, including approval by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (ACM), coordination with the trade unions and advice from the relevant works councils. DEEN, Albert Heijn, Vomar Voordeelmarkt and DekaMarkt aim to obtain all necessary approvals as soon as possible. The transactions are expected to be completed in the second half of 2021, provided all conditions are met.

deen.nl