A friendly convenience store for YEARS

“This anniversary deserves treats all year long”

“Of course our customers will celebrate with us”, marketer Liesbeth Paulus says. “On 14 January, we organised a fun anniversary event on the car park of OKay Ertvelde - our first store. But OKay will be treating all its customers in 2023. They will find anniversary promos in every folder: 1 + 1 free. The major anniversary campaign will be launched in March and April. You'll receive a scratch card for every EUR 25 spent at all OKays and OKay Compacts and you can win free products - thanks to our suppliers. How? You simply take the product you won from the shelves, have the scratch card scanned at the checkout and it's automatically 'settled'. Easy peasy, as befits OKay. (laughs) Some products will even earn you extra scratch cards. And there's more: a QR code on the back takes you to an answer form and a tie-breaker question, where again you can win some great prizes: from a balloon ride, wellness or a trip to Italy, to prizes at the group's other formulas. How about a cargo bike of Bike Republic, bath linen from MyComfort24 or a workshop at Colruyt Group Academy? The winners will be drawn at the end of May.”

“The aim of these campaigns is to involve our regular customers in our celebration and to thank them for their loyalty. But also showcase OKay to new customers through an activation campaign on social media and radio. Surely you won't miss this opportunity to pass by Okay (again), will you? (laughs)”

“I want to keep growing at OKay”

“When I applied at Colruyt Group, I wanted to become store manager at OKay Kortemark”, says De Jaeghere, who is now effectively the store manager at that particular OKay store. “During the interviews, it was suggested that my profile was better suited to Colruyt Lowest Prices. I was given the opportunity to start as a trainee manager at Colruyt Menen, later in Hooglede. But it soon became clear to me that this was not the right move for me. Managing big teams is less my thing. I suggested to my regional manager that I go back to my original plan: store manager at OKay in Kortemark. And that's what happened: I started as a trainee store manager and have since become said store manager.”

“It felt right from the start. In the beginning I was still working side-by-side with the store manager, but I soon knew what to do. The excellent cooperation with my assistant Nancy Huyghe really helped too. It's a fantastic, small and close-knit team that helps each other out. I like to be quite informal with colleagues and customers, I want to know what's on their minds ... And that's possible at OKay. I'm also glad I stayed at Colruyt Group: it's a good employer. Now my plan is to grow at OKay. But first I have to show my worth at Kortemark ... (laughs)”

“I get up with a smile every morning”

“OKay has been my second home since 2009”, Valérie Botin, assistant-store manager at Beaumont, says. “Yes, I really see OKay as a second family. I love the dynamic and innovation of our store formula. And the contact with customers. I need that human warmth. I really am lucky to have a job that gives me so much satisfaction!”

“I used to work in various other OKay stores before I came here and was appointed assistant store manager One day I want to be store manager. My job is more than just a source of income, it's a passion. I get on really well with my store manager and the atmosphere in the team is excellent. I get up with a smile every morning: because I know I'm in for a great day. At OKay, we're allowed to show our initiative. And that works out well: for instance, I have plenty of ideas to put products that don't sell well in the spotlight. I share these idea with colleagues from other stores. My energy also motivates others. And I try to create a good team atmosphere by organising various activities: a restaurant, a party, etc. I cherish the many memories I now have from the different OKay teams I was part of. Thank you OKay, thank you Colruyt Group!”

“First store manager, then promoter and now jointly responsible for store remodelling. When I started at OKay in 2002, there were 13 stores. Now there's 145. So yes, I've been involved in quite a few store openings”, laughs Geert Lammens laughts. “The first ones looked like small Colruyt stores. Back then, customers went to Colruyt about once every fortnight for a big shop. OKay was for the shopping that customers did in between.”

“Now these two mature store formulas co-exist, each with a fixed clientele. Our maximum floor area has grown from 400 m² to maximum 650 m² now. Not bigger, because customers still have to be able to get round the store quickly. 'Because OKay is fast, inexpensive and convenient'. Little by little, our stores became 'friendlier' and more finished: products nicely displayed, less boxes on the shelves, light blue floors, etc. And the fresh food department became even more important than it already was. The assortment is not the same anymore either. In keeping with today's customer demand, of course. But also in smaller packaging: smaller jars of salad spreads, four-packs instead of six-packs, etc. You mustn't forget we used to depend on Colruyt for this. We were supplied from their logistics, whereas now we have our own distribution centre in Laekebeek.”

Test: Okay Direct in container

OKay opened a second Okay Direct at the car park of OKay Lennik, where customers are able to go night and day. The store concept is different from the one in Ghent though: it's a high-tech container with a limited assortment of around 200 products on 21 m². The focus is on fresh, on-the-go and quick meal solutions. Customers only need an Xtra app to access the container and the products in the shelves. Payment can be made electronically. Many customers today want to shop more efficiently and do so outside conventional opening hours and on Sundays. With this new test, OKay Direct meets people's evolving demand for more freedom, flexibility and convenience. An evaluation will follow after this extensive test in Lennik. To be continued.

45,000 stuffed turkeys

2.6 million bottles of sparkling wine

All hands on deck

258 tonnes of fondue and gourmet

193 tonnes of prawns and shrimp

* New year at Colruyt Lowest Prices

Everyone likes to celebrate new year. But before we're able to enjoy a sumptuous meal, thousands of colleagues have to work double shifts for weeks to prepare everything, get them into our stores or offer them to our customers. The colleagues at Fine Food Meat in Wommelgem, for example, were busy for days on end manually stuffing nearly 13,000 turkeys with a tasty mince mixture. Quite a feat which, thanks to their craftsmanship, they once again completed with flying colours this festive season. Well done!