Colruyt Group

Founded in 1928 by Franz Colruyt, Colruyt Group is a Belgian company involved in the retail and food service businesses. The company first began as a wholesaler before diversifying its business. Its headquarters is based in Halle, Belgium. Currently, the business is one of the leading retailers in the country with more than 4.5 million customers.  

Colruyt Group offers over 40 store formulas under the following banners: Okay, Bike Republic, Bio Planet, Cru, Dreamland, etc. 

Moreover, the company operates several stores in Belgium, France, and Luxembourg. As of March 2022, Colruyt Group operates 744 own stores and 588 affiliated stores as well. The firm also owns sourcing offices in Hong Kong & Bangkok.

Colruyt Group offers its online format, Collect&Go, which allows its customers to shop online and collect their items at the designated pick-up points. Currently, it operates 307 Collect&Go pickup points. An online pharmacy, Newpharma, is also accessible and is recognised as Belgium’s largest online pharmacy. 

In addition to this, the Group owns 141 service stations under the brand DATS 24. The enterprise also runs the Colruyt Group Academy which offers training courses for employees, customers as well as partners. 

In the financial year 2021/22, Colruyt Group achieved a turnover of €10 billion and currently employs 32,996 people. 

The enterprise offers a large assortment of goods in the following categories: 

• Savoury grocery: spices, pulses, rice, etc.
• Sweet grocery: baking powder, jams, tea, etc.
• Drinks: water, juices, fizzy drinks, etc.
• Wine & spirits: wines, champagnes, cognacs, etc.
• Chilled & fresh: fruits, ready meals, meat, etc. 
• Frozen: seafood, vegetables, ice creams, etc. 
• Dairy: butter, cheese, whipped cream, etc. 
• Personal care: perfumes, lip balms, eye creams, etc. 
• Household: detergents, bin bags, air fresheners, etc. 

Brands such as Lu, Coca Cola, Lipton, Red Bull, Martini, Jordans, Brossard, Haribo, Milka, Apericube, Chavroux and many others are endorsed by the firm. Moreover, the retailer caters for consumers with specific food needs as there are organic, vegan, vegetarian and many other special products in its portfolio. It provides only free-range eggs and all fresh rabbit meat comes from animal-friendly park systems.

 Colruyt Group developed its own brands known as: 

• Boni Selection: a range of 3500 references that are categorised under 5 sub-lines: Boni Selection Bio (food items), Boni Selection Eco (a range of household products), Boni Selection NO Gluten (a set of products which are gluten-free), Boni Selection Kids as well as a special range available for end-of-year celebrations.
• Everyday: a range of affordable basic foods such as milk, juices, biscuits, etc.
• Graindor: a brand of coffee which was launched in 1937.
• Kangourou: it features more than 300 products including school supplies. 

The retailer maintains the highest quality standards as it possesses certifications such as FSC, PEFC, RSPO and many more. 

In 2021, the Group acquired a Belgian Food service company, Culinoa as well as a Belgian fitness chain, JIMS. 

Concerning logistics, Colruyt Group operates its own distribution centres. The company is also the first retailer to own a 44-tonne hydrogen-powered truck. It is noteworthy that its fleet of trucks is renewed every 5 years. 

In addition, Colruyt Group has its own production facilities for meat processing, bread, cheese cutting, wine bottling and coffee roasting. In 2021, the Group opened a 4,200 sqm production site in Halle, which is used for the production and packaging of salad spreads.

The company’s online shop can be accessed on: https://www.collectandgo.be/ d on: https://www.collectandgo.be/