The Gazette March 2024

Friends with farmers

Which colleague will you vote for?

Visiting Thailand and Hong Kong

Dear colleagues,

It's spring. A time when many people wake up from their winter slumber and get out to exercise. And this is something Jims can only support. Because it's also our goal: to get people to do more and better exercise, to inspire and motivate them to adopt a fit and healthy lifestyle.

Jims has been doing that under the wings of Colruyt Group for three years now. A collaboration that has given us both a big boost. Not only did we expand from 26 to 37 gyms in Belgium and Luxembourg, Jims was also given its own identity through a renewed coaching approach and differentiating club concept. And three quarters of our members are under 35, which is a new target group that is able to discover the retail brands of the group through Jims.

Meanwhile we're one of the driving forces behind Colruyt Group's health pillar. Jims tries to be more than just a sustainable fitness chain. We also use our craftsmanship for Colruyt Group co-workers, for instance, by organising warm-up exercises and providing ergonomics tips for colleagues at logistics sites. Or by building bridges with other group initiatives on topics such as diabetes, nutrition or sleep.

I'm proud of the road Jims has covered these past few years. We offer our members affordable, professional and personalised support. Have you only just started exercising or are you more advanced already? Have you been pregnant? Or do you prefer to exercise in a group rather than alone? We have a tailor-made offer for everyone. And our typical Jims vibe is pretty unique! Our coaches are close to our members. Did you know 90% of our co-workers were once Jims members and therefore are very familiar with what goes on here? That too is an asset.

A big thank you to our internal co-workers, self-employed group instructors and personal coaches. Our ambition is to continue down this road with them.

Panagiotis from Greece

Andy: darts world champion

Hilde is playing Marie Curie

Johan is a whisky lover

Birth, marriage, cohabitation, pension and death

The past in pictures

Wall of fame

Photo finish

Pieterjan Nuitten Business unit manager Jims

Partnerships with 6,000 Belgian farms

Five questions about our collaboration with Belgian farmers

One of the enduring images of the past winter must have been the ongoing farmers' protests. Originally they were aimed at the European agricultural policy, but they also culminated in blockades of our distribution centres. The perfect opportunity to explain how we see the collaboration with Belgian farmers from a retailer's point of view.

What are farmers worried about?

Farmers don't have it easy. They have a great, but challenging craft. The insecurity relating to the nitrogen plan and the stricter rules that Europe wants to impose has made young farmers think twice about their future. They're also pointing the finger at us. We supposedly drove up the prices of land by buying farmland ourselves, worked with foreign producers too often and paid local farmers too little for their products. Farmers are crucial partners for Colruyt Group. We understand their concerns, but find their grievances against us unjustified.

Why does Colruyt Group buy farmland?

Farmland is very coveted land: not only by farmers, but also by nature organisations, industry, entrepreneurs, individuals, etc. We want to ensure that farmland effectively remains farmland to guarantee our Belgian product range together with local farmers. And we want to invest in sustainable agriculture with innovative crops and initiatives to improve the soil quality. And we need our own land for this. But our share is very small: we barely possess 570 ha of farmland in Belgium, 400 ha of which in Wallonia. That's only 0.05% of the land available in the south of Belgium. That's not even enough land to supply one Colruyt store. When we purchase new land, we stick to the market price and don't overbid. Proof: in Liège, Namur or Luxembourg – where we don't have any land - the price of land has risen as much as in other regions.

How do we support local farmers?

Anything we can buy in Belgium is bought in Belgium. Our stores sell products of almost 6,000 Belgian farms. Fresh meat, milk and eggs are almost 100% Belgian, in the vegetable section it's about 75%. At our customers' request, some vegetables are available all year round. We only import from other European countries when the Belgian season ends. Apples and pears are 87% Belgian. And we always try to grow tropical fruit in Belgium as well, in cooperation with local growers. Our Belgian melons are a case in point. We also continue to work with those local growers to introduce new crops and varieties.

Do any farmers support us?

For sure! We receive plenty of support from farmers with whom we have a close working relationship. For example, the brothers Gunther and Koen Odeurs told the press: “Sound agreements are reached based on trust. Colruyt Group believes in our expertise. We're always correctly and fairly compensated for what we do.” A farmer who wished to remain anonymous added: “When I see what my colleagues are paid, Colruyt pays very well. If you can work with them, you'd be stupid not to. We should be grateful that they believe in supporting local farmers.”

How do we try to improve the relationship with farmers?

We believe in sustainable, transparent collaboration and remain committed to a dialogue with the farmers. This is why we will continue to actively contribute to a dialogue between the retail and agricultural sectors. We're also committed to taking further actions to support the Belgian agricultural sector. For example, we've already raised the purchase price for beef carcasses and we ensure that this increase goes entirely to the farmer. We also like to put Belgian products in the spotlight.

Text: Benoit Van Trimpont / Photo: Katleen Van Den Eede

Three questions for Koen Baetens, Colruyt Group Real Estate director

In addition to Food, Non-food, Health and Energy, Colruyt Group is now targeting a fifth pillar: Real Estate. Why?

Koen • “Real estate is of strategic importance for our group: we invest in important locations to secure them in the long term. By turning real estate into a separate pillar, our profile towards the outside world will be even stronger. We want to focus more on the name recognition of Real Estate to show that Colruyt Group is a professional partner that can handle major projects. Just look at Colruyt Schaarbeek, where we integrated the store in a residential complex.”

What does Real Estate do? And for whom?

“Real Estate is now a separate business operating unit. We agree on a priority plan with other BOUs of the group: where would be a good location for more sites? We then start looking for suitable sites in these locations and take care of the building permit, the other permits, the construction work itself – not just the structural work, but also the interior – and the maintenance. In short, Real Estate supports internal partners for all matters related to infrastructure, including office buildings, distribution centres and production sites. We also facilitate new development projects or the purchase of existing buildings, such as the acquisition of the Match and Smatch stores.”

What are the ambitions of this pillar?

“Our focus remains on the retail sector, although in the future we want to join forces more with partners outside the group. This is why increasingly we will be working in line with the market. Due to shifts in the group – just think of DATS 24 and Dreamland – we're already acting as an external party sooner than expected. By increasing our name recognition, we can also work directly with owners, without go-betweens, such as project developers and real estate agents.”

Live life to the fullest with Collect&Go

You may have already spotted it in the webshop, on TV and other online and offline channels: Collect&Go has revamped its brand! “The new, unique style of communicating has made our brand even more recognisable,” marketer Katrien Schockaert says proudly. “Evolution, not revolution, was a deliberate choice. We like our blue base, but we're adding a fresh touch to it. And it's not only a new house style. A brand-new image campaign launched our new base line: ‘Leef vollenbak’ ('Live life to the fullest'). The idea is to give our brand recognition an extra push.”

A FIRST

Smart shopping cart

It was already announced in the Gazette: the test with our ‘smart cart’ we developed in-house. These tests have been finalised and received considerable interest. The innovative shopping cart is a first in Belgium: products are registered by scanning the barcode in the cart. Smart sensors and artificial intelligence check a correct registration and the weight of the products. The tablet in the handle of the trolley allows you to keep track of the bill and to consult the Xtra shopping list. Products without a bar code, such as fruit and vegetables, were put to one side of the cart during the test. They still have to be weighed at the check-out. We don't have a solution for this yet. And in the future, payment will be automatic on leaving the store. The smart cart test is a new step towards our store of the future.

Automations in Ollignies back on track

Our logistics site in Ollignies is a unique combination of a classic distribution centre and an automated storage and order picking warehouse. Thanks to the extensive annual maintenance carried out by our Technics colleagues, these automations are ready for another year. Like every year, this is a quite a feat and involves a lot of work. For example, when the machines that prepare the pallets are shut down, the work has to be done manually. This provides an ideal opportunity to carry out other maintenance. For example, this year the turbine that moves goods to other pallets pneumatically was replaced. Meanwhile, the operators took care of the necessary cleaning activities: cleaning conveyor belts, removing pieces of dirt, unblocking articles that got stuck, etc. Usually maintenance is scheduled during quieter times. Unfortunately, due to the farmers' protests and the launch of Comarkt stores this year, this was not straightforward. However, the excellent collaboration meant the maintenance went smoothly and efficiently once again. A big thumbs up to everything who did their part!

Nutri-Score to be more accurate

New password policy

The IT landscape is evolving rapidly. Unfortunately hackers are also surfing on this wave. In other words, it's important to secure our IT systems and invest in cybersecurity and that’s why a new password policy will be gradually rolled out: everyone has to choose a strong password of at least 14 characters that can be used for one year. We're also launching a new tool that allows you to choose a new password, without the assistance of the Helpdesk. Thank you for your co-operation! Because you too are an indispensable link in combating cybercrime.

To make the Nutri-Score food label more reliable, the calculation method for the score was reviewed. For example, the amount of sweeteners, sugar, salt, fibres and (un)saturated fats are taken into account more now. Semiskimmed and low-fat milk now score better than whole cream milk for instance. In other words, consumers will be able to make even healthier food choices now. Producers have until the end of 2025 to change the Nutri-Score on their packaging. The correct scores are already available on the websites of Bio-Planet, Colruyt and Collect&Go, the Collect&Go and Xtra app, and the Bio-Planet price labels.

Telex

• Following the successful ‘A Dinner to Die for’ murder game, Colruyt Group Academy is launching a second cooking workshop, ideal as team building with colleagues. This time the theme is: Fortuna Mexicana!

• Solucious now also makes bike deliveries in Leuven After Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent and Mechelen, this is the fifth cycling region for our food supplier.

• In 2025, the fifth Cru market will be opened in Leuven. It will be housed in a building we recently took over from Match.

• Spar For You entered into a collaboration with Panos which through our food concept now offers fresh sandwiches to the Ghent Police.

• Our ‘easy check-out’ system won the RETA Award for innovative technologies in retail. This is international recognition for the recent in-house developments of Smart Technics.

• Solucious wins the international halal certificate. This is quite something if you consider the growing demand.

• The lease contract for the regional office in Denderhoutem was not extended. The reason: costs too high for low occupancy.

• To provide an even better service to customers, our Okay convenience stores will open at 8.00 a.m., half an hour earlier in other words.

Welcome to Comarkt!

Meanwhile the majority of the Match and Smatch stores have reopened as Comarkt stores. They'll be converted to their final store format step by step. Six independent stores were turned into Spars immediately.

5/3/24

Spar Bertogne

7/3/24

Spar Vaux-sur-Sûre

11/3/24

Comarché Braine-le-Comte

Comarché Châtelet

Comarché Marcinelle

Comarkt Schaarbeek

Comarkt Sint-LambrechtsWoluwe

12/3/24

Spar Ruddervoorde

14/3/24

Spar Wanfercée-Baulet

18/3/24

Comarché Ath

Comarkt De Haan

Comarkt De Klinge

Comarché Florennes

Comarché Grez-Doiceau

Comarkt Ostend (Gelijkheidsstraat)

19/3/24

Spar Momignies

Spar Wépion

25/3/24

Comarkt Bruges

Comarkt Ghent (South)

Comarkt Groot-Bijgaarden

Comarkt Machelen

Comarché Namur

Comarkt Oudenaarde

2/4/24

Comarché Braine-l’Alleud

Comarché Fontaine

Comarkt Mariakerke

Comarché Mons

Comarkt Ostend (Frère-Orbanstraat)

Comarché Vaux-sousChèvremont

8/4/24

Comarché Auvelais

Comarché Couvin

Comarkt Puurs

Comarkt Sleidinge

Comarkt Vorst

15/4/24

Comarkt Gullegem

Comarché Huy

Comarkt Lendelede

Comarkt Stokkel

Comarché Waremme (South)

Openings

14/2/24 Okay Compact Berchem

21/2/24 Bio-Planet Gasperich (Luxembourg)

27/3/24 Okay Compact Elsene (Louisalaan)

15/3/24 Bike Republic Beveren

5/4/24 Jims................................................ Mersch (Luxembourg)

Reopenings

26/2/24 Jims Ghent (Rooigemlaan)

29/2/24 Bike Republic Antwerp

28/2/24 Colruyt Frasnes-lez-Anvaing

1/3/24 Okay Kortemark

7/3/24 Spar Ypres

13/3/24 Colruyt (+ Collect&Go) Blankenberge

13/3/24 Okay Direct Ghent (Kortrijksepoortstraat)

27/3/24 Colruyt (+ Collect&Go) Nieuwpoort

3/4/24 Colruyt (+ Collect&Go) Tertre

10/4/24 Okay Stekene

11/4/24 Spar Antwerp (Left bank)

Radio

42

After its predecessor lasted as long as 42 years, the Technics workshop in Hellebroek DC now has a brand-new cutting bench. “The new machine has made a considerable difference,” says Edwin Minne of the Construction department (on the right on the photograph). “It's computer-controlled, has plate support and is considerably more ergonomic. We use the cutting bench to cut iron, stainless steel and aluminium plates. It's used to make stairs and floor chequer plates, but also to finish the moving walkways in the stores, slide plates for Fine Food, repairs of trailers in the garage, spare parts for the machinery, etc.”

Milestone: 75th Spar Formula store

departments about working at Colruyt Group. A great initiative, which must have been very popular among young MNM listeners.

Balloons at the entrance, Ferrero Rochers with ‘75’ on and festive posters: on Thursday 7 March, Retail Partners Colruyt Group playfully announced the special milestone of 75 Spar Colruyt Group Formula stores. Spar Ypres reopened on that day: the 75th store in a row. “This ‘Formula’ is the DNA of every renewed Spar store,” according to Spar. “The total package that guarantees a strong, typical experience. The Spar brand is the main point of recognition and the local independent entrepreneur's speciality the trump card. The ‘new Formula’ was launched in 2015, when Spar Kessel was the first to open under the new banner. The development would never have been possible without the hard work of the independent entrepreneurs, their teams and the RPCG co-workers. Every colleague is a special link in the chain. We want to continue to reinvent ourselves in the future too, with maximum focus on innovation and sustainable growth as the recurrent theme.”

FrasneslezAnvaing

Minister praises our integration approach

During a visit to our Dassenveld distribution centre, Flemish Minister of Integration Gwendolyn Rutten was full of praise as to how Colruyt Group manages to help newcomers find long-term work quickly. Through language classes, training, practical coaching, etc., we undertake to lowering the barriers to find work and adopt measures to strengthen integration and the chances of success.

“Colruyt Group is an inspiring example of how we can guide newcomers to find work from day one, and giving them every opportunity to develop their careers,” the minister said. It's great to hear that - as a pioneer that employs individuals with difficulties entering the job market - we're a source of inspiration for the Flemish integration policy.

Closely following Iljo

Impassioned cycling aficionados love this time of year. Not only because of the many cycling spring classics following each other in rapid succession, but also because spring is the perfect time to get out there on the bike. Jims Ghent (Rooigem) provided an extra incentive with

‘We Ride With You’, a day full of inspiring workshops for people with a cycling passion. The cycling session with former cyclist Iljo Keisse was an absolute highlight. He organised an unforgettable bike ride and provided inspiration for both starting and experienced cyclists.

Mentally and physically balanced

Exercise is not only important for our physical health but also for our mental health. With this in mind, Jims donated two fitness machines to the Emergency psychiatry unit at Ghent University Hospital.

“I've been looking for good fitness equipment to encourage our patients to exercise,” says Tamara Visser, head nurse at the Emergency psychiatry unit. “I tried loads of things: made a request to the city, a Rotary association, etc. But had no luck. And then I heard that Jims was replacing its machines and was getting rid of the old ones. A lucky shot: we were in the right place at the right time!”

“We provide care here and treat people with psychiatric problems. A crisis can have different causes: from suicidal thoughts and addictions to manic depression or an adjustment disorder related to bereavement. This is a closed unit: our patients can't just walk out. If they feel bored or

restless, we encourage them to go for a walk in our garden, but the new cross trainer and exercise bike offer variety and are a good alternative to watching TV or when it's raining. The equipment is very accessible: it's set up in the living space, ready to be used.”

“Patients have been very positive. Exercise is a good way to get rid of excess energy and a step forward in their recovery process. Physical distraction can really help you to feel better. I'm convinced that other units - where patients stay longer - should also focus on more exercise to literally and figuratively get things moving again.”

Sara Van Cleemputte

/ Photo: Katleen Van Den Eede

Bio-Planet revived

Spring is not only showing itself outside. The skies are also gradually clearing for Bio-Planet. “The energy crisis and inflation presented us with some tough challenges in the past year,” Jan Van Holsbeke, business unit manager of Bio-Planet, comments. “But we pulled through and are now seeing the first signs of recovery.”

To start with, let's go back to the corona period, when organic and Bio-Planet were doing really well. Why was that?

Jan • “It was a special period. People spent less on travelling, restaurants and other leisure activities. People cooked more at home, there was extra budget to spend on food and there was a willingness to spend more money on healthy food. And we benefited from that of course. Furthermore, many of our customers shop both at Colruyt and Bio-Planet. At times when it got extremely busy at Colruyt stores, they chose to go somewhere where it was safer to shop. Customers who originally came to Bio-Planet to buy specific products realised that we also stocked everything. This was a good time for us. Almost every week a new week record in terms of revenue was broken. It gave us loads of energy!”

“More and more people want to make a sustainable contribution to a healthier life and a healthier planet. And that starts with people's purchase and consumption behaviour. And as an organic supermarket this is something we can help them with” - Jan

But then we saw a decline.

“We knew it couldn't last. And just when all the pieces were starting to fall back into place, the Russians attacked Ukraine. Consequence: scarcity, high energy prices and inflation. The high energy prices in particular scared people. Our loyal customers kept coming, but spent less. And finding new customers was not easy at that time. We're very sustainable, have good products that are good for people and the planet, but they're slightly more expensive. And for many people that was a problem at the time. And we felt that.”

On the one hand less revenue, and on the other hand increasing costs: that's never a good combination.

“Indeed. Fortunately, we're a price fixer and not a price follower. In other words, it was slightly easier for us to on-charge the rising purchase rates and other costs in the sales. We didn't on-charge everything of course. If classic products were to become 5 to 10% more expensive, and we would also increase our prices by 10%, this gap would only get bigger. This is why we also had to make other, structural choices.”

What adjustments did you make to get out of this dip?

“We carried out a thorough efficiency drive to lower our costs. Yes, the 'ants and elephants’ did their work for us as well. (laughs) In marketing, for example, we got rid of our paper folder and replaced it by digital alternatives. We've not experienced any commercial disadvantage following this. In terms of logistics we decided to go from five to four store

deliveries a week. That didn't cause any problems either. And we also made some other choices in our e-commerce approach: picking orders in our stores and bringing them to a nearby Colruyt store was very expensive. That's why we decided to only offer this service to customers who picked up their orders at their Bio-Planet store. We may have lost part of this revenue but at least the service is profitable now. We're now up to five order picking rounds a day. In other words, there's still room for growth. But sometimes we pick orders worth 200 euros.”

Did you also make cuts in the assortment?

“Every item you sell comes with a cost: negotiating, ordering, stocking, transporting, stocking the shelves, etc. If your figures aren't right, you have to see which products have the highest return. Based on this analysis, we decided to remove more than 500 items. We now have an average assortment of about 4,500 sustainable references. It's in our DNA to give them space and time to prove themselves and is why we're always open to initiatives from the Product Development department or suppliers. We are somewhat stricter now in that: we'll give a product six months rather than a full year before we make a final evaluation.”

The high energy prices and inflation seem to be over now. How is this noticeable?

“The number of receipts in our stores is on the up again, our revenue has grown, the stores are achieving the forecasts in terms of revenue, our loyal customers keep coming and are prepared to spend the same amount – a normal receipt is just under 60

“The number of receipts in our stores is on the up, our revenue has increased again, the stores are achieving the forecasts in terms of revenue, our loyal customers keep coming and we're also welcoming more new customers” - Jan

euros – and we're also welcoming more new customers. Even though it's still early days, it looks like we're through the worst. Provided nothing unexpected happens again of course…”

Does that mean we have reason to believe that organic and conscious consumption are on the up again as well?

“In the long term definitely. More and more people want to make a sustainable contribution to a healthier life and a healthier planet. And that starts with their own purchase and consumption behaviour. And as an organic supermarket this is something we can help them with. Product info and guidance of our enthusiastic store co-workers are essential in this. In addition, care for one's own health is increasingly the focus: people with type 2 diabetes or lactose intolerance can often find what they need in our stores. Although I'm convinced we can provide more help to these target groups.”

Hitting the fifty store mark

In recent years Bio-Planet opened several new stores with a fresh and inspiring concept. The first store in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg was a milestone of course (see photograph) Jan Van Holsbeke “Of course the stores don't take off from the first day. But the marketing promotions to get customers to those stores is working. Hannuit and Tournai's revenue increased 20 to 30% over the last six months. And we're also expecting a lot from the new store in Luxembourg – where the organic market is more developed than in Belgium. Is there still space for expansion? For sure, we've always said there's capacity for fifty stores in Belgium. We need to be able to do much better in large cities for example. We'll have to see what concept that will be. But there's certainly still some growth margin there. Thanks to the acquisition of the Match and Smatch stores, there are some great opportunities for Bio-Planet as well.”

People's health and the planet often go hand in hand.

“That's a fact. Our customers choose our assortment for the pure, unprocessed or ecological products. But how the food is grown or produced, how animals are treated, what the farmers earn or the sustainable packaging are also important factors. We have a very articulate and convinced public, who tell us when we need to raise the bar. But if all goes well, they're also super enthusiastic ambassadors.”

They encourage you to be a pioneer. “That's definitely a role we want to play, without necessarily wanting to be at the helm of all new developments. But we're open to it. In light of the protein transition, for example, we developed products tailored to consumers who want to eat more vegetables but are not yet ready to give up meat, such as the hybrid burgers with peas and seaweed, which have better nutritional values and taste delicious.”

Last question: in a recent satisfaction survey by Testaankoop, Bio-Planet achieved very high scores. That means you're doing well, doesn't it?

“It confirms that our loyal customers are satisfied: about the quality of our products and the co-workers' willingness to assist. So yes, that's great!! We can still grow in terms of brand recognition for a wider public, but it motivates us to continue on the path we're on.”

“Care for one's own health is increasingly the focus: people with type 2 diabetes or lactose intolerance can often find what they need in our stores. Although we could do more”

- Jan

Feature: from (S)Match to Comarkt

Text: Benoit Van Trimpont

Katleen Van Den Eede

Our biggest acquisition ever

At seven stores a week, practically all Match and Smatch stores we acquired have been converted into Comarkts. An intense process. “But more importantly, we wanted to create a warm home for about 1,000 new colleagues and many more new customers.” says Annicq Balcaen, operational business manager of Comarkt.

WHY was the acquisition of Match and Smatch such a good move?

Annicq • “With 57 stores this is the biggest acquisition we've made to date. This large-scale project supports our growth plans and strengthens our market leadership in food retail. Of the 84 stores for sale, we chose 57 at interesting locations, chiefly in cities and Wallonia. This is handy because it allows us to open stores in places where it was hard getting permits, like Chimay. Moreover, this acquisition provides an opportunity to tap new customer segments. In Leuven, for example, where we already have three Colruyt stores and a Bio-Planet, we can appeal to a new target group with a new Cru market smack in the centre.”

WHEN were the Match and Smatch stores converted?

“On 4 March the Belgian Competition Authority consented with the conversion of 49 of the 57 stores. Of those 49 stores, seven immediately closed for a longer period of time: they will immediately be revamped into one of our store formats. For example, Match Leuven had a water infiltration problem and the revenue at Smatch Mechelen was very low due to a nearby construction site that blocked easy access to the store. It was quite logical therefore to close these stores first. For another seven stores, our Retail Partners colleagues are in talks with the owners with a view to welcoming them into Spar's network or as wholesale customers.”

“The other stores were converted – spread over seven weeks – into a Comarkt or Comarché, in anticipation of their final store format. To achieve this, each store closed its doors for a week, after a clearance sale of the assortment. We needed that week to install our check-out software, stock the shelves with our own private label products and train the store personnel. The first Comarkt stores opened on 11 March, the last will open at the end of April. Over the next three years, every store will be re-converted to its final Colruyt Group store format.”

HOW do you recognise a Comarkt store?

“By the logo on the façade. (laughs) Because as much of the original store furnishing as possible is retained initially, each Comarkt looks different. Don't be surprised if you have to put your shopping on a checkout conveyor belt. It's this big diversity that makes this project so challenging. Several big Match stores offered fresh produce at their fish counter, meat counter, cheese counter and bakery. For reasons of cost efficiency, we decided to simplify this assortment from the onset.”

“Despite the diversity, every Comarkt offers a wide range of quality products at competitive prices. Cora made way for Boni and Everyday. Customers are encouraged to use Xtra for an optimum shopping experience. This allows us to get to know and recognise our customers and reach them in the most efficient way. Talking of competitive prices: did you know prices at Match and its smaller format Smatch were pretty high? When it opened as Comarkt, we highlighted the fact that our prices are 9% lower than before on average! In this way we hope to attract more customers who will buy more. At the later opening of the final store we'll introduce another price reduction. We think we'll be able to increase the revenue of these stores by 50% in this way.”

WHO works at the Comarkt stores?

“Following the acquisition we're welcoming some 1,000 new store coworkers, many with years of seniority at Match or Smatch. In Leuven for example, more than half of the staff has been there for more than 30 years! A close-knit team, that knows its customers well. The Match and Smatch workers have not had it easy in recent years. They've been in survival mode for many years and are now going to be incorporated into a healthy company. We find it important to welcome them with open arms and to immerse them in our Colruyt Group culture, with our typical values and customs. How? By talking to our new colleagues and seeing for each person what training they need to really be one of us. Experienced Colruyt Group co-workers are sent to every store to support the transition on the shop floor. And vice versa, if our new colleagues already want to make the switch to Colruyt, Bio-Planet or Okay, we're certainly open to this.”

WHAT is the impact of 57 extra stores on our company?

“The revenue of the Match and Smatch stores can be increased 50% through... price reductions”

- Annicq

“This project required in-depth preparation, consisting of 22 tracks and 150 work packages in all. True, we took over the Match and Smatch store staff but none of the management, logistics or technical workers. The result is that various Colruyt Group departments - Sales, Human Resources, Supply Chain, IT, Technics, Fine Food, Marketing Communication Services, etc. - had their work cut out to get 57 stores up and running in just a few months. Our logistics department also had to go the extra mile to supply all the stores. To get it all done, our selection department did an amazing job by hiring about 120 additional logistics co-workers! The next step is to assess our capacity to find a place for these additional people and determine to what extent we need to expand our distribution centres or not.”

Together for a smooth transition

New store manager

“Happy to be joining a strong group”

“Because our store was part of the first wave of Match and Smatch stores that reopened under the Comarkt banner, we were a kind of test store to organise the transition,” Pascal Latouche, new manager at the new Braine-leComte Comarkt, explains. “The challenge was huge: we had to restock the whole store, get used to the systems, new ways of working and Colruyt Group programs and make some adjustments to the store, such as taking away the self-service checkouts. And all that in one week! We didn't think we'd manage when we started. However, everything went very smoothly and we finished on time thanks to the good cooperation between the former Match team and the Colruyt teams. This transition has made a huge difference to my role as manager. Store management has become easier, which means I have more time to spend in the store: standing at the check-out, restocking shelves, talking to customers, etc. New, but very stimulating! We still have a lot to learn, but are very happy we joined a strong group like Colruyt.”

New employee-salesperson

“Both co-workers and customers are enthusiastic”

“The conversion week when the store was closed, wasn't the easiest week,” says our new colleague Julien Masson, former store co-worker at Match, now employee-salesperson at Comarkt Braine-le-Comte. “Learning a new way of working while assembling and stocking shelves was not easy. But we achieved our goal and are very happy that Colruyt Group has breathed new life into our store. We used to be responsible for a specific department, now we alternate. The work is fairer now: now it's not always the same person who's responsible for a department that often requires heavy lifting or working in cold refrigerators The offer has changed too: the number of items has been reduced - that was necessary - and private labels Boni and Everyday were added. And there's a big price difference too of course. The first customers to return after the store closed didn't seem to mind that much. (laughs) They were enthusiastic about the changes! We hope to attract new customers in this way. The team is also happy and the atmosphere is great.”

Instructor

“It's so nice the new colleagues are very motivated”

“To help the former Match team in the store transition to Comarkt, three store Colruyt Lowest Prices co-workers were posted to Braine-le-Comte for a period of six months,” Sébastien Thérain, assistant store manager at Colruyt Ellezelles, explains. Our role: to train new colleagues, teach them the values of the group, help them discover the strengths of Colruyt Group, etc. With my experience as an assistant store manager I chiefly support the brand-new manager and his assistant store manager in this store. When I arrived on site, I first focused on safety, a crucial aspect. I was quite surprised that nobody was wearing safety boots. Surely that's essential? A mentality change was also in order. Colruyt puts a premium on autonomy and flexibility. That wasn't the case at Match. But despite all the changes the co-workers are very motivated. They soon got in line which meant we were able to reopen as planned. The transition of this Match store has been a success. Respect for the whole team in Braine-le-Comte!”

People & Organisation

“Gradual change”

“Taking over so many stores and new employees is a lot of work for us at People & Organisation as well,” An Wijnant, HR business partner Colruyt Group at P&O, comments. “However, we tried to cause as little upheaval as possible for these co-workers and managers. A new work environment and employer is already a major change. For instance, we'll stick with SD Worx, the payroll processing company with which Match and Smatch worked. After all, they're familiar with the Match payroll and working conditions.”

“For temporary workers and student workers we'll continue the existing collaboration with Start People. The application procedure for the managers remains unchanged. And in the field of prevention advisers, Attentia will continue to take care of the obligatory medical examinations. However, our health and safety officers will be responsible for the new stores: by June, they want to have visited every store to start implementing changes to working conditions that could be better in terms of well-being, safety, ergonomics, work equipment, etc. Meanwhile, the Works Council and the Committee on Prevention and Protection at Work have also met for the first time. And our selection department found

the necessary extra logistics people in a short space of time. P&O warmly welcomes the 1,000 new colleagues!”

Text: Laura Vanneste & Benoit Van Trimpont

/ Photo: Katleen Van Den Eede

Ready for some sunshine

The Fine Food Wine colleagues are going the extra mile these last couple of days. Because as the weather turns nice again, the first barbecues and garden parties are being organised and, yes indeed, the party boxes are appearing. Every year, we sell about 4.6 million party boxes (or wine bag in boxes) in our stores. Mostly white, but also rosé and red. “Our wine bags in boxes are very popular when it's nice weather,” production manager Luc Brissez says. “Sales explode on a summery weekend. This is why we start stocking up from April. Every minute our production lines produce about 30 boxes.”

Did you know that Colruyt was the first supermarket to introduce wine bags in boxes in Belgium in the late eighties? They used to be manually filled and glued shut in our bottling plant. It was a massive job which currently is largely automated.

Photo: Katleen Van Den Eede

Increased ergonomics

Colruyt Group is always looking for solutions to make the work as ergonomic and pleasant as possible. For instance, our technicians tested an exoskeleton that supports the body with certain movements or postures. We discussed it with our prevention adviser Steven Amandels.

Steven, what is a exoskeleton?

Steven • “An exoskeleton is a kind of harness you wear over your work clothes that supports your body with specific movements or postures. We focused on the back support model. It's made of an elastic material that tightens up and in so doing stores energy when you bend forward, and relaxes again and releases energy when you straighten up. Your body is supported and the physical strain on the back muscles is reduced.”

Which colleagues carried out the test?

“In 2018 we conducted a first test with order pickers in our distribution centres. An exoskeleton really did help but it didn't feel comfortable to wear: too hot, hard fabric and material, restricting movement, etc. The soft materials have considerably increased the wearing comfort of the models. Time for

880

Colruyt Group has organised internal language classes for co-workers who need them, both individually and in groups, for almost 25 years. This helps newcomers find permanent jobs in no time. Last year more than 880 co-workers followed Dutch or French language classes, good for an investment of 1.2 million euros. The labour market is the perfect place to integrate. Language classes and refresher training programmes in the workplace allows newcomers to start working immediately and offers them an opportunity to further develop their talents.

Together, we contribute to a better society step by step.

A job fair that works!

“Our internal job fairs are a real hit,” selection manager An Vannerom says. “Many co-workers who are seeking a new challenge within Colruyt Group discover a wide range of job opportunities under one roof. Various store formats and departments present themselves: it's an ideal opportunity to quickly make contact with people, ask questions and even apply for a job. For some visitors the latest sessions meant a fresh start!”

a new test in other words, this time for the technicians of Technics. They often have to work under difficult circumstances: places that are difficult to reach, kneeling, lifting, working above shoulder height or below knee height, etc. In this case, an exoskeleton really can make a difference.”

Will the exoskeleton be rolled out then?

“We've only just completed the tests. We're in the process of collecting the findings of the Technics colleagues and are evaluating the pros and cons. Only then will we make a decision to continue with this ergonomic support system and for which jobs we will make these harnesses available.”

Together, we contribute to improve everyone's health, step by step.

Your guide to a smoke-free life

On average, non-smokers live four years longer and stay healthy seven years longer. Quitting is always pure profit for your health and your bank account. This is why many smokers want to lead a smoke-free life. Do you also want to quit smoking? Our leaflet 'Your guide to a smoke-free life' (doc598.005) contains valuable advice. You'll discover the best tips and methods to say goodbye to tobacco for good. Or go to tabakstop.be for free advice.

Together, we contribute to improve everyone's health, step by step.

New roles…

The Quality Service Centre – the Colruyt Group department that watches over the quality of our products, product info and services – has a new organisational structure. This change comes with new roles: quality officer, quality controller, quality manager, etc. Excuse me! That needs a word of explanation.

Who better to do this than the team itself?

… for even more quality

An Roelants Team manager

“As team manager I helped to prepare the transition to the new system this past year. Co-workers with questions received additional information and we made a deliberate choice to work with feasible steps. After a pilot project, we launched on 1 January and made a few adjustments during the process. Coworkers helped to determine the exact content and division of tasks. Nice touch: we also gave people a degree of choice between the product groups. Sometimes there are still difficult moments in the team: following a training while things are changing is quite a lot to deal with. But if I can say something: my team has massive willpower and an inspiring resilience!”

Inne Vierendeel Quality manager

“My previous position has actually been broken down into two positions: quality controller and quality manager. I'm currently a manager, which means I keep some of my duties, but it also comes with new expectations. As I'm responsible for all dry food, I have a pretty busy calendar. At the same time I'm learning to use the new system. However, I can see the advantages: it's a logical and efficient structure and everything is easy to follow up. Collaborations are better and faster and we have more meetings. Over the coming months, we'll try to define my position better. I'm confident it's going to be fine!”

Nils Bachot Quality controller

“I used to be a quality manager for one store format, now I work as a quality controller for the whole group. My product department is meat: fresh meat and meat preparations. In my new role I've noticed that the tasks are more defined and that I'm able to specialise more on my product group. This makes it easier to improve your knowledge about the products and the associated legal frameworks. It's fun and challenging to be able to make your mark during this transition from different systems to one and to build your network. I am now genuinely working with products and increasing my knowledge, from introduction to shelving. Something which I enjoy doing even more!”

Dimitri Melotte Quality controller

“I'm responsible for the quality checks of the non-food and nearfood product groups. I collect all the necessary information about, say baby items, cosmetics or garden items for all stakeholders. The difference with before is that I feel far more involved in the whole process. I also have more responsibility, because we have a seat at the table where decisions are made and we get to talk to the quality managers. Tasks are also handled more uniformly and that has advantages: when a colleague is ill, it's easier to deal with. Over the coming months we'll see whether the workload between the three quality controllers is evenly divided. A bit more fine-tuning in other words.”

Lien Borgenon Quality officer

“Questions about product data and guidelines for workers, partners and customers? Then I'm your contact. I was already part of the project in the pilot phase which means I'm quite familiar with it. It was a pretty intense period: like the first day at school where you have to figure things out for yourself, but you also learn a lot in a short time. Part of our old job remains the same, but now we're involved in the process from start to finish. For example, we're currently testing and sampling a new range of healthy snacks ourselves and meeting with the marketeers, dieticians and quality controllers. A slightly more complex job, but at the end of the day I'm even prouder.”

Madison Geenens Quality officer

“I still have to complete a training to be fully on board with the new system but I've already noticed some changes. The big bonus is that now we can really be more hands-on. We review each item with the entire team, sample it and collect feedback to make everything less abstract. The visual aspect is also very important of course: just think of the discolouration you see on a delicious steak on Sunday and how disappointed you feel. Bye bye appetite. And when we receive complaints we find out how it was possible in the first place. And then the process starts. Our standard is always the quality we have in mind with the whole team.”

Text: Wim Naeyaert

/ Photo: Katleen Van Den Eede

Who will you vote for?

It's that time again from 13 to 26 May: social elections in Belgium. And that means in practically all Colruyt Group departments as well. You too can step into the voting booth and choose who will represent you in the Works Council and the Committee on Prevention and Protection at Work.

WHO 's allowed to vote?

“Social elections are held every four years,” Sarah De Vos, Legal Adviser in Human Resources, explains. “Every co-worker who has been employed for at least three months on the day of the vote is allowed to vote. Every co-worker entitled to vote receives an invitation at home. Voting is not compulsory, but is strongly recommended. Because the more co-workers vote, the more representative the representation in the social consultative bodies is.”

FOR WHOM can you vote?

“You can choose from three trade unions: the Christian ACV, the socialist ABVV and the liberal ACLVB. Depending on the company, each union draws up a maximum of three lists for the Committee on Prevention and Protection at Work: one for blue-collar workers, one for white-collar workers and one for youngsters (co-workers younger than 25). They do the same for the Works Council, but here there's a fourth list for executives. Each co-worker chooses within their category of course: bluecollar workers for blue-collar workers, white-collar workers for white-collar workers, etc. Based on the election result, the seats are divided among the three trade unions. The candidates with the most votes per trade union will be given those seats and represent you in the next four years during the social dialogue with the management.”

HOW can you vote?

“This is going to be the very first large-scale electronic election. We already carried out a test in 2012, but the time wasn't right for a large-scale roll-out. This time it's a deliberate choice. As a modern company, we feel we have to embrace it and go fully digital. The polling station with booths will be replaced by a vote form on a laptop. Only the white-collar workers, managerial staff and youngsters of Colruyt Lowest Prices will still vote on paper at the trade unions' request. Like in political elections, you can vote for a list or for specific candidates from a list. The fact that invalid electronic votes are not possible is a nice bonus.”

WHAT can you vote for?

• Works Council

“The Works Council deals with the company's economic and financial situation. It's where management first informs employee representatives about major business and social issues: a reorganisation, a major acquisition, the impact of current events such as farmers' protests, etc. The Works Council also approves labour regulations, leave arrangements and timetables.”

• Committee for Prevention and Protection at Work

“The employer can check initiatives on workplace health and safety in this committee. Employee representatives can then offer advice or suggestions or make comments. In view of the growing attention for well-being at work, burnout, ergonomics, hygiene, etc. this committee is becoming increasingly important.”

Eight technical business units

Our group has eight technical business units (TBUs) that each represent a group of workers. For every TBU the co-workers elect the Works Council and the Committee on Prevention and Protection at Work. These eight TBUs are:

• Colruyt Group

• Colruyt Lowest Prices

• Okay/Bio-Planet/Cru

• Retail Partners Colruyt Group

• Dreambaby

• Bike Republic

• E-logistics

• Solucious

Kathleen Fontaine

ACV - Blue-collar workers

“I defend the interests of blue-collar workers in the Works Council of the TBU Colruyt Group for my fraction. That's why I like to stay informed about the company's economic and financial situation. I keep close track of the figures and make sure that co-workers also benefit when things are going well. As chief representative, I also consult regularly with the other trade union members.”

Peter Splingaer

ABVV - Blue-collar workers

“I find it important to be involved in the goings-on of the company and to have a say about employment regulations or timetables. Both in the Works Council and in the Committee for Prevention and Protection at Work, we engage in intense yet constructive discussions to make a difference for all co-workers. Our company is also becoming more diverse. That comes with certain challenges, which I want to work on.”

Albert Donkerwolcke

ACV - Blue-collar workers

“The Works Council really interests me: like to know how the company is doing and keep close track of the figures. At the same time, I am working to improve the health and safety of colleagues in the Committee for Prevention and Protection at Work; in our distribution and return centres, but actually throughout the company. Well-being in the workplace is becoming an increasingly important issue. I like to help people move forward, and am happy to lend my support.”

André Damoiseau

ABVV - White-collar workers

“I've been on the Works Council and Committee for Prevention and Protection at Work of Colruyt Lowest Prices for many years. To me, any dialogue should be about collective progress. I keep my colleagues in the loop of financial and social themes. And I advise management on topics about well-being at work that have an impact on store co-workers. It's great to give colleagues a voice in this way.”

Michel Verbiest

ACVLB - Managerial staff

“As a member of the Works Council and the Committee for Prevention and Protection at Work, I give the managerial staff members of the TBU Colruyt Group a voice vis-à-vis the management and in the company. We raise issues in the general interest, and look for decisions that benefit both the company and co-workers. I've been doing it for 12 years now, and it still gives me great satisfaction.”

Stéphanie Gautier

ACLVB – Managerial staff

“For me, the relationship between employees and management is based on trust. That's how you can bring about change. In that positive and constructive spirit, I want to represent my colleagues in the TBU Colruyt Lowest Prices. At the same time, I find it important to also get to know the work in the field. Because I want to set a good example, both as a delegate and in my work.”

Behind the scenes at Newpharma

Newpharma: established in 2008, fully acquired by our group in 2021 and born out of a desire to revolutionise the pharmaceutical industry by providing a digital alternative to traditional pharmacies. CEO Gilles Jourquin and COO Pierre De Lit give us a tour of their base of operations in Wandre.

Reference in online sales

“Newpharma is the biggest online pharmacy of Belgium: more than 1,700 brands and 50,000 pharmaceutical and parapharmaceutical products that can be delivered without a prescription at sharp prices. Our main objective? Easy access to preventive healthcare. All products in our certified pharmacy come from official distribution networks, thus guaranteeing optimal quality. We're established close to Liège and have a network of about 2,000 pick-up points in Belgium and deliver to your home in many countries: Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, etc.”

Flawless ordering system

“We ship approximately 10,000 orders every day. Every order is analysed by our team of pharmacists. They check whether the products are used correctly, give advice and ask customers questions about unusual orders.

Once validated, our order pickers take over.

Personal digital assistants (PDAs) tell them where to pick up and deliver the products. We stock almost 25,000 regularly ordered items. Less popular products are delivered to us daily by a wholesaler based on orders received.”

More than just a web shop

“A number of extra services set us apart from others: Pharma Connect, for example, for making an appointment for an online consultation with one of our expert pharmacists or vets. They can answer questions and give personal advice on medicines, nutrition, sports, sleep, etc. And a new service, the Nutri-Test, allows customers to assess their eating habits, mood and emotional balance, detect any imbalances and buy customised nutritional supplements.“

Innovate to grow

“Robots of automation specialist Scallog, developed together with our Smart Technics department, combine ergonomics and productivity. Operators no longer have to move around to stock products or prepare orders: instead, the shelves with products come to them. The software automatically moves the shelves with the products they need and tells the operator what and how many products to take from which container. This system currently processes some 2,500 references.”

Newpharma in figures

• 300 permanent staff

• 50,000 items

• 1 distribution centre of

50,000 m2

• 168 million euro revenue*

* in 2022

Visiting Asia

One week, three time zones and six flights… Annick Mievis and Geert Roels (Purchasing) paid an intensive, but very instructive visit to the colleagues of our Colimpo import department in Hong Kong and Bangkok, and a number of Asian suppliers. Here's the report of their trip.

“Direct collaboration with suppliers worldwide”

Colimpo opened its first office in 2012. Base of operations? Hong Kong, the Asian financial centre. The goal? Direct purchases of food products. “Colimpo's operation makes go-betweens such as importers unnecessary,” Annick, Purchasing division manager, explains. “We can work more directly with suppliers, maintain more control over the logistics process and increase the expertise of our purchasers in Belgium. That not only applies to Colruyt Lowest Prices, but to the whole Colruyt Group. And also for indirect purchases, like our electronic price labels.”

“The Colimpo merchandisers are not restricted to the Asian market: they look for producers all over the world to work with. They look at the price and quality of the product as well as the working conditions of the workers. They also carry out product tests and visit suppliers to check the quality of production. We also have quality controllers in Hong Kong, managed by our Quality assurance department. They check the social context.”

“Ideal location for second office”

Thai rice supplier

“Surprised by the ecological awareness”

“Thailand has a relatively modern economy and generally working conditions are better than in other Asian countries,” according to Annick. “We saw this with our own eyes during our visit to a Thai rice supplier we work with. We were given a tour of the factory and the fields. This allowed us to see and experience how things work. They explained rice cultivation to us, the impact of climate change and how it differs in certain countries.”

“It was great seeing the 15-person team in Hong Kong in real life. After all, they're also part of the Purchasing division! These informal chats are just as valuable as official meetings.”

“Live contact is also very important to colleagues abroad,” Geert, director of Purchasing, continues. “Their culture has a lot of respect for superiors: it means a great deal to them to meet their division manager and director. Particularly for the team in Bangkok, as this was the first time we visited them. Colimpo opened a second office in 2022 - where three people are now working - following COVID restrictions and new regulations in Hong Kong. Bangkok seemed the best location because of its geographic proximity to productions and local talent. All our eggs are not in one basket now.”

“During our visit we provided - as in Hong Kong - a strategic explanation of the things that are changing within the group. The teams there gave an overview of their activities: finding suppliers and products, facilitating for buyers and guiding their trips, requesting tenders, etc. It was great to hear them talk about their experiences and what they're up against.”

Hong Kong Bangkok

“I was surprised at the level of Thailand's ecological awareness,” Geert adds. “Thailand already has many eco-friendly entrepreneurs and companies where ecology and sustainability are fully developing. With the European Green Deal, sustainable sourcing is only becoming more important - both in terms of environmental and social aspects - and we gained interesting insights about this during our visit. As people in charge of the purchasing policy, you have to see how it works in reality and look at the broader picture.”

Indian fruit and vegetable supplier

“Eye-catching contrasts in India”

“For Geert and I it was the first visit to India,” Annick says. “In Nashik we visited Sahyadri Farms, an agricultural and food processing company in which Korys, the Colruyt family holding company, has a stake. It's one of our fruit and vegetable suppliers, they help small farmers sell their produce, provide training for farmers, sell machinery, etc.”

“Their own production is focused chiefly on research and development,” Geert adds. “They test how to make varieties more disease-resistant and process fruit and vegetables into biogas. In the field of agricultural technology they are stateof-the-art in other words, but in contrast we saw large halls full of women peeling nuts by hand. In terms of working conditions, the Thai rice supplier scored better.”

“Our preference goes to Belgian products as much as possible of course. However, we also import peppers, for

example, because the local cultivation is not enough for a year-round supply. That's what Sahyadri Farms focuses on: their diversity of crops was obvious during the company visit. And other dynamics in world trade also surfaced. You need those insights to anticipate and plan for the long term. A valuable visit in other words!”

Text: Lili Vanden Wijngaert

/ Photo: Colimpo

Hidden forces, strong women

With an eye for detail that is as sharp as their organisational skills, they are the hidden forces that maintain order in the busy life of our board. A look behind the scenes with Dorien De Nie and Nancy Geeroms, management

“As a management assistant you have to be a chameleon and adapt quickly to new situations” - Dorien

What is a typical day like for you?

Dorien • “Oh, we do so much! (laughs) Draw up the minutes of meetings, follow up on to-dos, send out memos on behalf of the directors, etc.”

coffee was ready when they walked in so to speak. That's no longer the case. Also, everything used to be on paper. Contracts are digital now for example. We're a lot more alert for spam now: we make sure a lot of mails are checked!”

Nancy • “Actually, our main goal is to make sure our directors' working day is structured. And in case of some last-minute emergency, we're there to put out fires.”

Dorien • “Making sure there's food on time for a meeting if the catering hasn't arrived, for example. (laughs) You have to be a chameleon and adapt quickly to new situations.”

Nancy • “Fortunately, we have a good network and helpful colleagues. That helps to get things done quickly.”

Dorien • “A big part of our job includes calendar management, which means moving around meetings. You have to enjoy piecing things together… And be able to assess what is urgent and what isn't.”

So that means you also monitor the priorities.

Dorien • “We do! What mails or documents are urgent, what can wait? I really try to limit the number of urgent matters to make it as easy as possible for them. For my previous director I used to highlight the most important information, he barely bothered with the rest. (laughs)”

Nancy • “That means you know what's going on in the company.”

Does it often concerns confidential projects?

Dorien • “Yes. Discretion is very important and that's not always easy because you don't always know who's in the loop and who's not. Silence is golden. Even to each other!”

Nancy • “Particularly as we're a listed company. The fact that we're 100% reliable and dedicated, strengthens the bond with the board.”

Has your job changed much over the years?

Nancy • “Yes, for sure! Assistants had to make sure the director's

“The fact that we're 100% reliable and dedicated, strengthens the bond with our director” - Nancy

Dorien • “We used to work at the office every day. Colleagues would often pop in to schedule a follow-up meeting, for example. We now work from home more using the Teams chat.”

Do you have to be available at all times?

Nancy • “No, no! Sometimes I'll receive a message late in the evening, but that's more of a reminder.”

Dorien • “When Stefan sends me a message late in the evening, I know it's important!”

Are the directors very different?

Nancy • “I worked for several directors, including Frans Colruyt, Marc Hofman and now Jo. They all have their own style. But that's what makes it fun.”

Dorien • “Stefan is the second director I've worked for. Whereas the former liked everything on paper, Stefan prefers digital. I've worked with him for ten years now. Every time he changed position, he asked me to move with him. We know each other really well now and sometimes only need one word.”

Do you remember what your most memorable project was?

Dorien • “My first job as a management assistant was to have a top secret document printed out and bound last minute. 'Guard it with your life,' the director said. And so I hurried to our printing house and sat on a chair next to the printer. (laughs)”

Nancy • “Jef Colruyt's recent going away event also springs to mind. It was quite something being a part of that behind the scenes.”

And finally: 18 April is ‘Management Assistant Day’, formerly 'Secretary day'. Do you get flowers?

Nancy • “Sometimes! One year they'll remember, the next they'll forget! (laughs)”

Stefan and Jo, you know what you need to do!

Text: Sara Van Cleemputte

/ Photo: Katleen Van Den Eede

40-year celebration of fitometers

It must have been in 1984 when Colruyt organised its very first fitometer: a computer and IT training and a visit to the coffeeroasting house and cheese factory in Passendaele. These supplier visits have now become regular practice to provide inspiration to co-workers relating to the products in our stores.

Mental fitness

“In the eighties ‘fitometer’ was a common term used for fitness courses to get people to exercise, Piëdro Vander Steene, fitometers coordinator at Colruyt Lowest Prices, explains. “Colruyt also wanted people to stay fit, but mentally. E.g. through personal growth training, or by giving co-workers authentic inspiration through supplier visits. Because at a production site you see, hear, smell, feel and taste all kinds of things. By playing on co-workers' senses, making them enthusiastic, they're going to share that experience in the store with colleagues and customers. And it makes them commercially stronger.”

Focus on the store

“Our fitometers are primarily for Colruyt store co-workers. Our Okay colleagues also organise a couple of fitometers, Bio-Planet has its experience days. Logistics and production colleagues are also more than welcome. For example, if we were to visit a cattle breeder this autumn, it could certainly be interesting to the butchers at Fine Food Meat. Fitometers are paid by the company. You have to do them in your own time: in other words, participants have to invest seven hours of overtime recovery. Our assumption is that you follow the fitometer from a personal interest in a product or supplier. To guarantee the normal operation of the store, they're not organised at busy moments such as Fridays, holiday periods or weeks with a public holiday. The fitometer has to be part of your working week and in other words should not be planned on a weekend recovery day. That day is to do other things. By using a recovery day, you restore you work-life balance.”

Moving with the times

“Every year the programme is renewed and optimised with some 80 fitometers. Together with our marketing and purchasing departments, we look at which product categories are interesting. We then look for suitable - preferably Belgian - suppliers with an inspiring story. We want to align the offer as closely as possible with evolutions in the assortment and in sales. Fresh products are a big part of store revenue: it is therefore logical to visit a cheese dairy, a fruit grower, the fish market or vegetable auction. But suppliers move with trends, which means our assortment does too. For example, our visit to brewery Het Anker in Mechelen focuses strongly on their nonalcoholic range. In the autumn, we will underline animal welfare during a visit to a breeder of our welfare chickens and a cattle breeder. And of course Belgian farmers and their products are not missing from our programme.”

Less is more

“Not only the programme and the content of the fitometers has evolved in those forty years. We used to visit several suppliers a day sometimes. We try to limit that now: we give the suppliers all the time and space they need to tell their story. Not commercial, but inspiring. At crisp manufacturer Croky, for example, the process from potato to crisp in a bag is explained. We also stopped taking the coach because most participants drove themselves. We now meet at a Colruyt Group location nearby, and drive to the supplier together from there. And the elaborate three course menus we used to be served have become more of an exception nowadays. (laughs)”

“At such a supplier you see, hear, smell, feel and taste all kinds of things. And you share that experience in the store with colleagues and customers” - Piëdro

On to the next 40 years

“The aim is the next 40-year celebration of fitometers of course. (laughs) Some are timeless. For example, I remember visiting a fruit grower in Limburg in the early 2000s. I was particularly impressed by the love with which those people treated their apples and pears. When I went along to a strawberry grower recently, that same feeling came back: the passion of those growers is fantastic! Fitometers like that are worth going to. Others are continuously aligned to the needs of the participants. For example, I expect we'll increasingly visit small, artisanal suppliers. And fitometers on, for example, protein alternatives, local wine and Belgian agriculture will also become increasingly popular in the future.”

• Discover the fitometer programme via doc229.464.

• Sign up via Academy.Store on our portal.

Commuting on two wheels

Bike commutes. A true bliss now that the weather is on the up. And a choice that not only has benefits for the environment, but also for your physical and mental health. Colruyt Group is happy to help you on your way.

Peloton comprising more than 6,000 cycling colleagues

More than a third of our workforce uses a sustainable means of transport to come to work: electric scooter, public transport, on foot or... by bike. “Increasingly more colleagues – more than 6,000 or 22% last count – cycle to and from work every day,” Antoon Vander Putten, co-worker mobility coordinator, says. “And in the summer months it's even more. Their average commute is 7 km. This adds up to more than 80,000 km a day, or as much as twice around the world! A good choice, because commuting by bike is good for your health, the environment and means less traffic on the roads. We want to encourage them to continue doing so and hope they are able to inspire other colleagues to increase this number even more.”

Bicycle commuting allowance

27 cents per km

And commuting to work by bike is good for your bank account too. Do you cycle your entire commute or in combination with public transport? In both cases you're entitled to a bicycle commuting allowance.

“Since 1 January 2024, the bicycle commuting allowance for all Colruyt Group Belgium co-workers has increased from 24 to 27 cents per kilometre, for every day they're at the workplace and without kilometre limitation,” Antoon says. You can also apply for this allowance for a shorter period than a year, for example if you only like to take your bike out in the summer. In addition, the government decided to introduce a tax-exempt ceiling as of this year. If your annual bicycle commuting allowance does not exceed €3,500, it will not be taxed. If it's higher, you only pay tax on that portion. But to exceed that amount your commute would have to be more than 64 km (home and back).”

Bike to Work

A company bike and cycling equipment

Of course you can always cycle to work on your own bike. But anyone who undertakes to commute at least 80% of their journeys by bike is eligible for a company bike. Antoon: “You can choose between a standard or an electric bike. You can also use it privately. And we also have solutions for people who come to work by train or bus but want to travel to and/or from the station by bike. The stations of Halle, Leuven, Ghent, Mechelen, Londerzeel and Bornem have station bicycles to ride to your workplace. Or you use a handy, personal folding bike between your home and workplace and the station. In each of these cases, you're also entitled to bike equipment, such as a helmet and rain gear.”

Bike repair stands

Quick repair

Flat tyre, saddle not high enough or loose brake cables? Yes, it's annoying, but at the sites of Wilgenveld in Halle and Retail Partners Colruyt Group in Mechelen-Zuid and Zwijnaarde, you can make small repairs at the bike repair stands by the bike sheds. More of these stands will be provided at central buildings. “You'll find a bicycle pump, wrenches, screw drivers and tyre levers,” Antoon explains. “In short, handy tools for simple bike repairs. All co-workers of surrounding sites can also use these tools of course.”

Discover our mobility brochure via doc868.015

Benoit Van Trimpont / Photo: Katleen Van Den Eede

Together, we contribute to improve everyone's health step by step.

Change a tyre? Give me 1’07”!

1 minute, 6 seconds and 97 hundredths. That's the record time it took Dries De Caigny to be crowned Belgian tyre changing champion at Velofollies for the third time. It's a job he's done countless times at Bike Republic in Roeselare.

“I must have changed thousands of tyres and inflated them to 5 bar. And yet I still practised a couple of times at home to find ways to shave off even more time. I think I can get it down to under a minute. If everything goes perfectly... (laughs)”

“Changing punctured tyres is actually the foundation, but I still really enjoy it. I often start my working week changing tyres. As a warm-up… (laughs) Apart from that we have our hands full servicing bicycles. I enjoy working on racing bikes the most: fine-tuning a bike is pure enjoyment. But there's less and less of them. It's incredible how fast electric bicycles or e-bikes have taken over.”

“Sometimes we'll take a bicycle that needs servicing apart, to then put it all together again piece by piece: new cables, brakes, spoke, gearwheels, etc. It's very satisfying to be able to give our customers a bike that's as good as new. In our workshop we have all the tools available. Nipple wrenches – with a different colour for each size - to tighten spokes, spray cans with cleaners, lubricant and penetrating oil to loosen bolts, chain tongs and punches to repair chains, a tube cutter to shorten handlebars or tubes, etc.”

“Now that the cycling season has started, the five bike repairers and three salespeople have their work cut out. That rush continues until at least mid-September. We're not going to get bored… (laughs)”

From Greece to Lot

Pita street

“In 1985 – I was 24 – decided to leave my native country of Greece and move to Belgium. Finding a job wasn't easy at the time due to the economic situation. So I went to work for my former sister-in-law. She operated Snack Athènes, a Greek restaurant at the Kaasmarkt, close to the Grand Place in Brussels. Nowadays the street is known as the Pita street because of the many Greek restaurants there. (laughs) I arrived here with the equivalent of 50 euros in my pocket! I did so many different jobs to make ends meet. I worked up to 65 hours a week. Oh, and I didn't speak a word of Dutch or French. I'd like to apologise to all the people I served pitas with onion and who didn't enjoy it. (laughs)”

Crisis in Greece

“I then worked for the Greek embassy in Brussels for about ten years. Right up until the moment the economic crisis in Greece hit really hard. I was made redundant in 2013, together with half the staff. Being unemployed at the age of 52 is not fun! After a number of jobs at chocolatier Leonidas and an industrial bakery, I was able to start at Colruyt Group five years ago fortunately. First as an order picker, then as a building

With more than 90 nationalities, Colruyt Group is a friendly melting pot of cultures. Panagiotis Kilitjidis from Greece, building manager at Solucious in Laekebeek, arrived in Belgium 39 years ago with only 50 euros in his pocket. “Everything I have today, I owe to myself. And I'm very proud of that.”

manager at Solucious. I really like it here and my colleagues are very friendly. And that's a good thing because I see them more than my wife! (laughs) I'm glad to have found a stable job which will give me security until I retire.”

Success story

“I've worked hard all my life, and I'm proud of what I've achieved. If I die tomorrow, I die a happy man. I've done a lot and everything I've done I owe to myself. Now that I'm approaching retirement age, I enjoy it even more. I go back to Greece quite regularly to visit my brother and my cousins. Last month I even travelled to Greece to celebrate the national holiday on the 25th of March. I hadn't been to celebrate it in Greece for a long time

and I miss the parades, the traditional costumes and the atmosphere!”

Pearl of the Mediterranean

“Greece is a beautiful country. All tastes are catered for: you have mountains in the north – where you can ski in the winter – sea, islands, a lot of sun and heat in the summer, delicious food, etc. And the people are jolly and very hospitable. Unfortunately the economic crisis of 2010 had a huge impact: a lot of companies had to close, people didn't go out any more and didn't enjoy life in the way they used to. Life was tough, especially in the big cities. Fortunately Greece recovered and for me it's a joy returning!”

Text: Benoit Van Trimpont /

Photo: Katleen Van Den Eede

Text: Laura Vanneste / Photo: Katleen Van Den Eede

Between you and me • Remarkable colleagues

From pub darts player to world champion

When he has his darts in his hand, Andy Baetens changes into ‘The Beast’. A nickname given to him by other darts players.

“Because I'm a beast at the oche I guess?”, he laughs. The store co-worker from Spar Hofstade won the first Belgian darts world championship in the elite. And now he's playing all the big names in tournaments all over the world.

Teach 'em young…

“I started playing when was eight. It all started at home with a dartboard on a chair, together with my dad. After practising in pubs, I started competing. But I felt could go up a level, and started going to tournaments in other countries. I really enjoyed it, and look where I am now…”

Now it's serious

“I now play at the PDC: the Professional Darts Corporation! The atmosphere is different compared to when I still played in the semiprofessionals league. You can still laugh and enjoy yourself there, now it's serious. The top 32 lives for the sport and it's their job. They train eight hours every day, I train two to three. I'm working half-time now so that I have more time to practise, better and more regularly: getting the total down to 0, throwing doubles and triple 20's, etc. I notice immediately when I've played less or not at all for a couple of days. I takes longer to loosen the arm, to get focused, etc. To get your rhythm back. And to be in better shape, I also cycle and walk more. We also have a dartboard at our Spar, but I don't practise on it much. I think about darts as little as possible at work, it's nice to have the distraction. I'd go nuts otherwise. (laughs)”

50,000 pounds

“I've played four big tournaments and have played some big guns, including Gary Anderson, Michael Van Gerwen and Michael Smith. The absolute world's best!” - Andy

“Darters also have to be strong mentally. You have to remain focused for up to two hours at times, and you mustn't let the other person get to you. You have to think about what you say and do. At the oche you're all enemies. But I've never been afraid you know! (laughs) The PDC is stricter. You have to be quiet. If you misbehave, you may get hit with a big fine. Even if you drink too much and don't perform in the way you're expected to perform. In their eyes you have to set an example. It's quite normal the competition is stiff because we're talking a lot of money. To give you an idea: when I won the World Cup in the semi-professionals league, I won 50,000 pounds (± 58,000 euros, editor's note). In the professional league that's times ten! And a simple tournament ranges from 1,500 pounds to about 35,000!”

Sporty Belgians

“I've won several titles, including the Belgian Cup a couple of times. But I'm most proud of my World Cup victory and my tour card to compete with the professionals. I worked hard for it and it makes me feel good. It's also good for darts in Belgium: the sport is really booming here. And Belgians have some of the best spectators. You get goosebumps when a full venue is shouting your name. You won't hear any boos. In other countries you do sometimes.”

The world's best

“I've competed with the professionals for about a month now and I'm at 97 in the world rankings. I've only played four big tournaments and have played some big guns, including Gary Anderson, Michael Van Gerwen and Michael Smith. The absolute world's best! Nine minutes I lasted against Gary before I had to sit on my chair again. (laughs) You need luck with the draw, but you have to throw well right from the start. My goal is the top 64, and to hang on to my tour card. I have enough time to achieve this. In any case I want to play the World Cup with the professionals at the end of this year. And earn more money playing darts! (laughs)”

Childhood dream come true

‘Curieus’ is a musical about the life of scientist Marie Curie. The lead? The lead is none other than our colleague Hilde Carens of Colruyt Group Technics.

Lifelong passion

“From a very young age, I wanted to do something with music. As an adult I finally did something about it: I signed up for the Musical course at the Podiumacademie Lier. The combination of singing, dancing and acting is a creative challenge, but it gives you a lot back. Getting into the skin of a character, being able to convey any kind of emotion, emotionally touching the audience, the feedback afterwards, etc. That's what I do it for.”

Production of the academy

“In May I'm playing the lead in ‘Curieus’, the dissertation of two students from the Jazz/Pop/Rock scriptwriting arrangement course. Podiumacademie Lier saw potential to develop the script into a real production and organised auditions at the school to put together a cast. To start my musical training, I also had to audition, but this was something else! A professional director brought a different perspective and quickly got me out of my comfort zone. It's amazing that I get to play a character like Marie Curie, whom admire a lot.”

In at the deep end

“It's an impressive production. We're actually doing experiments on stage like making steam and making liquids change colour.

In addition to the text and choreography, this means we have to remember which test tubes we need. The show requires a lot of preparation. Not just the months of rehearsals, but also learning the songs, extra voice technique classes and recording scenes for the rest of the cast to practise our lines at home. And all that with a full-time job and family! I've been at the musical school for five years, but this feels new. Fortunately, I get a lot of feedback from people with huge experience and expertise. This gives me the confidence to throw myself in at the deep end.”

Two hours for 500 people

“The European Association of Nuclear Medicine will record and subtitle our performance to show it in European schools to introduce children to science. The recording itself isn't making me nervous: I'll have a nice memento for posterity. But the fact that I'll be in front of an audience of 500 people for the first time for two hours does. (laughs) For many of my friends and family it'll be the first time they hear and see me perform. There's even some colleagues coming to watch… Quite exciting, a childhood dream coming true!”

Want to know whether any tickets are available? Go to musicalcurieus.be.

Ode to whisky

More than three hundred! That's how many bottles are in the collection of whisky lover Johan Pissoort, a technician at Field Services. He also organises tasting sessions for his own association, the 'Lietbeca Whisky Club'. “Quite recently, some Irish distillers came especially to Belgium to present their whiskeys to our club first.”

A strict selection

“Fruity, peated, smokey, etc. I don't stick to one taste, brand or type of whisky. One of my favourites is ‘The English’ from 2012. Only 258 of these bottles were produced worldwide. The finish changes as you taste, it's quite something! I opened it the first time I became a grandfather. The fact that my son-in-law was so impressed was good for my ego. For me, it's important that everything is right: from the look and smell to the taste and the finish. A whisky with a strong smell of alcohol? Everything else might be fine, but I won't buy it. Ultimately it's all about the price though.”

Better than a savings account

“What you like or don't like is a personal matter. Some whiskies are aged for up to 50 years. During that time, some of it soaks into the wood or evaporates. It increases the cost, but doesn't necessarily make the whisky better. Just like marketing: the label, the bottle, the packaging, etc. A bottle wrapped in paper may not be very appealing, but what matters is the content. It's the same with people! (laughs) You can buy 10,000 euro bottles, but my limit is 250 euros for a unique bottle.

And I'll keep it. It's like treasure hunting: if I discover an excellent whisky, I'm not afraid to invest in it. And if more people than want it, some collectors will pay through the roof. Especially first editions. It's better than a savings account! “That's your inheritance,” I tell my children. (laughs)

Tasting session of passion

“Each tasting session focuses on a theme, brand or distillery and we sample and discuss about seven whiskies. Whisky contains at least 40% alcohol. Not bad right… But you only get one dram every time: two centilitres. In a restaurant you get double. And in between I eat and drink water. never add water or ice to my whisky. The pace is also important. It might take me an hour to drink a dram! And during tasting sessions I hardly ever finish every glass. You're not really supposed to either. If you do, you won't know what the last one tastes like! I go for the discoveries and to exchange experiences. Left-overs are poured into small bottles for at home. Your taste buds are not affected by other drinks and I can be more objective. And make a better decision whether I want to buy! (laughs)”

Who?

As member of our Shocking Events Relief Team, Dominique Wollaert supports teams who unexpectedly experience something that has a major impact.

Go-getter

What?

The colleagues of the Shocking Events Relief Team offer support in case of intense situations such as a store robbery, a serious industrial accident or a colleague who dies.

“I was head of the Customer Services department when one our co-workers died. It hit the entire team quite badly. But I still had to take care of the day-today management to keep the department up and running. It did me the world of good to be able to count on colleagues who supported us. When the relief team asked me become a member, didn't hesitate. I wanted to do something for others!”

“First we followed a three-day training. Before accepting an intervention with a partner, observed experienced colleagues for a couple of months. Our team always provides initial relief: offer a listening ear, help with practical stuff, give tips, etc. The most important thing is just being there, offering some peace and quiet in the chaos and creating space to vent emotions.”

“The first time I offered help was when a colleague's child died. Something like that really hits you of course. But the positive reactions and gratitude of people give you immediate satisfaction. The fact that I sometimes have to make time for interventions in the weekend is nothing compared to the recognition you get for what you do.”

Do you also want to join the ‘shocking events’ team? Please contact your superior.

The members of the relief team provide mental support to colleagues in about 50 interventions a year. Together, we contribute to improve everyone's health, step by step.

Do you also support a sustainable initiative at work?

Let us know by mail to gazet@colruytgroup.com a direct to GAZET.

Between you and me

The past in pictures

Eric Vanbiervliet:

“The exhibition aims to group the old stories and bring them back to life. The first pictures are available on the ground floor of Wilgenveld.”

Lots of stories do the rounds at Colruyt Group. As well as many objects and pictures from times gone by. The Identity & culture VAK centre would like to do something with them. “Our plan is to regularly organise small exhibitions relating to themes that mean something to Colruyt Group: entrepreneurship, leadership, co-workers, etc.,” says Eric Vanbiervliet. “This exhibition would then group the old stories and bring them back to life. Pictures and objects say a lot about why we made certain choices as an organisation. To understand where you're going, you need to know where you come from. That's why it's so important to make the link with the Colruyt Group of today and tomorrow.”

“Our VAK centre is dreaming of an interactive exhibition space, a real museum. But we'll start small, with limited resources. This allows us to gain experience. This is why we worked out a test by way of an experiment: on the ground floor of phase 1, 4, 5 and 6 in Wilgenveld you can find the first batch of old photographs. To find what the story is behind the pictures, you simply have to scan the QR code with the poster.”

“This link takes you to our site, where all the pictures are collected. We invite every co-worker

to share their own entrepreneurship story. Because the group principle is that ‘Everyone is an entrepreneur'. We'll happily add all the stories we receive in this way to our web page. And turn it into a great source of inspiration!”

Be sure to check out the posters on the ground floor of Wilgenveld! They'll probably pop up at other group locations, such as Dassenveld and Hellebroek, soon.

Discover the first photographs and/or share your own story!

Do you have any fun pictures you would like to share with us? Send us a mail at gazet@ colruytgroup.com or a direct to GAZET. Text: Benoit Van Trimpont

Between you and me

• Wall of Fame

I think it's great and a real breath of fresh air in these days of pre-packaged food that the meat is freshly cut at the butcher's shop at Bio-Planet. It's worth the extra travel for me. Please don't change it!

Hello!

We received great help again when we went to your store. And we really enjoyed our coffee afterwards at Cuit. It's always a great experience coming to your store!

Thanks,

Greta

Our favourite store in our favourite newspaper: standing side by side with our Belgian farmers - how nice can a morning newspaper start?! Now let's hope our message (also by our farmers) is understood and that everyone (including Europe) stands side by side with our farmers…

Have a great day, y'all :-)

Thanks,

Myria

The Okay party menu was GREAT. We took the fish four times. Delicious from start to finish, from snacks to dessert. More than enough food, nicely packaged, and really delicious. And more than affordable. We're definitely doing that again. Congrats to the chef and the whole Okay team that made this possible. Kind regards,

Jef

Billie is absolutely beautiful!! I am definitely putting my baby gift list in your store!

I'd like to receive the registration form for ‘Dinner is served in 1-2-3 euros’. I work at Familiehulp and this is a great initiative that clients will love!

After the past difficult few days allow me to compliment the Okay staff in Boutersem!

I was there Tuesday afternoon and all the shelves were already nicely stocked, everyone was busy because a delivery truck had just arrived. The woman whom I assumed was the manager was helping and I heard her say to everyone: “Oh, I am glad” :) You can tell that the store in Boutersem is well run and the staff is always friendly and helpful. A big thumbs up :)

Having said this, I also understand the farmers' concerns. It's clear how essential their contribution to society is.

Ilse

Went shopping at our trusted Colruyt in Wondelgem today. We were helped by a student worker at the check-out. We found his name on our receipt: Ivaylo.

What a great chap! Friendly and efficient.

Between you and me • Photo finish Plant trees together?

About fifty Solucious colleagues, together with their family and organisation De Bosgroepen, started digging for a tree planting campaign in Bornem.

“We planted 410 trees together," says Inne Impens of Solucious. “200 trees were paid by Solucious to offset part of the CO2 emissions of our customer event. A big thank you to the helpers!”

If you're a good boy/girl … Sinterklaas has been back in Spain for a while now, but at the judo club in Kortemark they haven't forgotten him yet. “Our store likes to support their Sinterklaas event,” Liselot Van Acker, store co-worker at Colruyt Rumbeke at the time explains. “The remaining stock of our camp socks, together with a well-stocked lunch box, made a lot of youngsters very happy!”

The store managers and butcher's shop managers of Colruyt stores in the Campine also showed their most sustainable side. “Since last year the Amelvonnes brook meanders through the Botanical gardens in Meise again," regional manager Frederik Budts explains. “We helped Bûûmplanters plant a new valley forest. Trees saved via the Xtra app, in part by our customers.”

Thanks, Goedele!

“Together with some colleagues, I organised a surprise for our colleague Goedele Mertens at the end of January," says Lien Van Thillo, employeesalesperson at Colruyt Heist-op-den-Berg. “She's a great person and is retiring. When she came to the cafeteria on her penultimate day of work after closing, all the team was there and gave her a thunderous applause. She didn't have a clue and was pleasantly surprised of course. Mission accomplished!”

A sweet start

The opening of the Comarkt stores was also quite a challenge for the logistics colleagues. “To toast the favourable outcome, transport coordinator Pauline Cocquyt treated her colleagues to home-baked cookies in a home-made package at the start of deliveries to the former Match and Smatch stores,” Pauwel Dedijn, transport department manager, comments. “Super tasty and … a very original referral to this Match-project! Thank you, Pauline!”

15-year celebration of Newpharma

Our online pharmacy

Newpharma has only been under Colruyt Group's wings since 2021. And yet it was already time to celebrate.

“For our 15th anniversary we organised an amazing gala near Liège at the end of January,” management assistant Ludivine Smets says. “All colleagues were dressed to the nines in vintage Gatsby clothes. Yes, it was an amazing evening!”

That deserves a treat

For a great gift basket, you need to be at Okay. The Beaumont town council knows that too. To honour Yvonne Dussart - the oldest resident at 103 years old - they called on our convenience store. “It was quite an honour to personally hand over the basket too,” says team member Valérie Botin.

And at Okay Houthulst another birthday was celebrated.

“Regular customer Daniël turned 94,” store manager Johan Smet says. “He shops here every day: three heads of lettuce, newspapers and a snack when reading. We celebrated his birthday with cake, candles and a gift basket. He was very chuffed!”

A book about the best job you've ever had

“What exactly does a management assistant do? No-one knows. That was the reason to start writing,” says Isabel De Wit, Store Development management assistant at Retail Partners Colruyt Group. “My book ‘Management assistant? Super hero of the company!’ is an ode to the best job in the world. (laughs) Every chapter is the subject line of a mail. If you read the whole book you have a front row seat of a whole working day.”

100 km for cancer

The fact that Colruyt Groupies have their hearts in the right place should not come as a surprise. This was confirmed once again when the '100km run for Kom op tegen Kanker' (Stand up to Cancer) descended on Halle. Running teams from different departments of the group put their best foot forward to raise money for cancer research. Jan Barbé, copywriter at communication department Marcom Services and one of the runners (photograph at the top) “With the proceeds of our Christmas party and a hamburger sale at Hellebroek Office, we were able to raise the necessary money. The challenge was my main reason, but also the personal stories of course. I lost two of my childhood friends in quick succession to breast cancer, and most recently the goalie on our football team. They often came into my mind during the 40 km I ran. These people pushed me - together with my team mates and the amazing supporters along the road – to the finish. A unique experience!”

Easter at Cru

Easter is not only celebrated by families. Every year, our Cru markets are also at their 'Easter' best. “After Christmas this is our best period,” Marina Bockstal, experience manager at Cru Dilbeek, says. “Yes, we still have our artisanal breads for your Easter brunch and delicious chocolate Easter eggs and bunnies with extra cocoa butter. But this is also the time that seasonal produce hits the shelves: tender lamb, the first asparagus and hop shoots, etc. Many irresistible, pure products that Cuit gladly served customers for Easter!”

Photo: Katleen Van Den Eede