On the final day of The Amsterdam Produce Show and Conference (November 4, 2016) our retail tour host from London, Claire Powell, will be taking inquisitive show attendees on a fact-finding tour of the Dutch retail scene. Departing from the canal-side Hilton Hotel Apollolaan in downtown Amsterdam on a dedicated executive coach, participants can expect to arrive back at the Hilton by 15.30
Not one to miss for those looking to further their knowledge of the international retail sector, this comprehensive tour boasts a detailed tightly-organised schedule of diverse retailers to help delegates compare key factors, from packaging, range, in-store merchandising and availability to customer service and, of course product quality. Having spent more than 10 years with British retail giant Sainsbury’s in the fresh produce category, Claire can give professional insight into what to look out for before participants enter the stores and look around for themselves.
Jumbo holds 17% of the Dutch market
The first stop on the tour will be Dutch Supermarket chain, Jumbo. Originally established in 1921 as a grocery wholesaler, Jumbo now holds an impressive 17% of the market in The Netherlands. Renowned for excellent customer service and reasonable pricing policies, Jumbo is the second largest retailer in the Netherlands behind Albert Heijn.
Following Jumbo will be a contrasting visit to Vomar Voordeelmarkt, a family-owned independent supermarket with just 65 branches, almost exclusively located in the North of Holland. This heavily discounted supermarket welcomes 750,000 customers weekly and employs around 5,000 people.
Albert Heijn, the market leader
The tour will then take participants to visit Albert Heijn BV, the largest Dutch supermarket chain. Founded in 1887 in Oostzaan, The Netherlands, Albert Heijn is the oldest organisation owned by Ahold (or Albert Heijn Holding), which began trading as a combined entity with Delhaize, as Ahold Delhaize, in July this year. In contrast to hard discounter Vomar Voordeelmarkt, the market leader operates as a full-service supermarket and is regarded as one of the more expensive supermarkets in the Netherlands. With over 900 stores including convenience and express outlets, Albert Heijn controls around 30% of the Dutch food retail market.
Hoogvliet has 65 branches nationwide
Hoogvliet supermarkt will be the next stop on this retail road-trip. A younger supermarket chain founded in 1968, family-owned Hoogvliet now has 65 branches across the Netherlands. Though comparably small, Hoogvliet is an innovator in online grocery shopping and even delivers many orders in striking electric tuk-tuks.
Hanos is a wholesale cash and carry
Next on the list is something a little different. The group will be visiting Hanos, a stunning wholesale cash and carry store opened in 1975 offering over 80,000 products across two floors of more than 30,000 square metres – our American delegates will feel right at home! This particularly modern store is one of 21 in Belgium and the Netherlands and offers a note-worthily wide range in the produce category.
The peerless Markthal only opened in 2014
Rounding off the tour in foodie-style is a visit to the hugely popular Markthal in Rotterdam. Opened in 2014, the Markthal is home to 96 fresh food stalls and is known to some as the ‘food mecca’ of the Netherlands. Don’t forget to look up in this striking arched venue, though there is office space and flats directly above the Markthal, the walls and roof are decorated with beautiful Dutch art – making the Markthal a truly magical culinary meeting point. In fact, within the first three months of opening the market hall, more than 3 million people had gathered to dine, take in the spectacular architecture and shop for fresh food. Tour participants will be given some free time to explore and take their pick of the incredible food offer – we haven’t met anyone yet who wasn’t amazed the first time they encountered this venue.
Though widely recognised for being the fresh produce hub of Europe and historically known as Europe’s trading nation, this tour gives visitors an insight into the thriving €36bn Dutch retail scene on the ground in the Netherlands.
Guiding participants through this retail journey, Claire Powell will host discussions on the range of store formats and explore what’s demanded by Dutch shoppers at consumer-level compared to the UK and the US retail environments, which we explore at our London and New York shows.
A little about your host…
Retail tour host Claire Powell
Claire Powell spent 10 years with Sainsbury’s, ending as the trading and retail business development manager in fresh produce, serving as a key link between the chain’s head office and its network of retail stores across the UK. Whilst at Sainsbury’s, Claire implemented training systems to improve store performance affecting over 10,000 employees, projects that impacted the store long after she had left the company. She has extensive experience in international events with an impressive portfolio of clients in retail, finance and charity. Claire manages the extensive seminar programme and retail tours at The London Produce Show and Conference and is able to make comprehensive comparisons between international retail markets. Her great experience in retail allows her to dig a little deeper and lead exploratory discussions with participants on diverse retail environments and varied consumer trends.
* There are a maximum of 40 places available. Tickets will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. All tickets purchased must be affiliated to an Amsterdam Produce Show and Conference attendee. Travel to and from the Hilton Amsterdam is included. For more information, email [email protected]
