Biggest Supermarkets in Holland
The 10 largest supermarket chains in Netherlands all have Dutch roots with the exception of two popular German food retailers that rank among the Top 5. The supermarket industry in Holland has consolidated significantly over the past 20 years. The two largest players account for nearly 60% of total Dutch supermarket sales (€46.3 billion in 2022).
If you are new to the Netherlands, one of the first things you will want to know is what are the big supermarket chains where you can go to buy your groceries. Read on to find out the ten biggest players and a little bit about each business.
10 BIGGEST SUPERMARKETS IN NETHERLANDS
#1 ALBERT HEIJN
The first Albert Heijn grocery store opened more than 130 years ago in Oostzaan, Netherlands, just north of Amsterdam. Today, it is the largest Dutch supermarket chain with nearly 1200 locations across 3 store formats: AH – medium-sized stores found in all Dutch city centers, AH XL – large hypermarkets mainly in suburban areas and shopping malls, and AHtoGo – small convenience food shops in places with high foot traffic such as train stations. The Albert Heijn webshop is broken down by product category but can also be shopped by theme such as ‘Dietary Restrictions‘ (which can further filtered down to organic, low-carb, gluten-free, sugar-free or vegan products). Liquor products from Gall&Gall can be added to order. Albert Heijn accounted for 37.1% of Dutch supermarket sales in 2023.
#2 JUMBO
The first Jumbo supermarket opened in Tilburg in 1979 and was bought by the Van Eerd Groep a few years later. Through organic growth and acquisitions, Jumbo has expanded to become the second largest supermarket chain in Netherlands. It has almost 700 stores both owned and franchised. There are 3 Jumbo store formats: Supermarket (largest size with biggest selection), FoodMarket (heavily oriented to freshly baked or freshly made for eating in or taking away) and City (small sized grocery stores mostly in urban locations). Jumbo bought the popular La Place eateries in 2016 and has developed an extensive La Place brand product line. It also sells a range of HEMA products in store and online. Customers can order online at Jumbo.com and opt for home delivery or in-store pickup. In 2023 Jumbo had a 21.1% market share in the Netherlands.
#3 LIDL
This German discount food chain entered the Dutch market in 1997 and now has a 5.4 million customer base in Netherlands and fifth highest store count (438 as of 2023). Lidl has received numerous awards and topped customer surveys as having the best supermarket offering in the ‘fruit and vegetable’ category. The Lidl Netherlands webshop sells a large range of low-priced non-food items such as household appliances, cookware, tools, sporting goods, clothing, bedding and toys. Lidl does not sell food products through its webshop. Lidl had approximately 10.6% share of the market for Dutch supermarket sales in 2023.
#4 PLUS
This Dutch supermarket cooperative formed in 1928 under the name ‘Sperwer. After multiple name changes, the current ‘PLUS‘ banner was introduced in 2001. The company grew significantly following its 2021 merger with competitor Coop. In 2023, the PLUS Supermarkt chain had sales of €4.7 billion (7.8% market share) and operated almost 400 stores. PLUS is frequently cited as having the best wine assortment among supermarket chains in the Netherlands. When buying through the PLUS webshop, customers can choose home delivery or pickup from store. PLUS is a member of the SuperUnie buying cooperative.
#5 ALDI
Aldi is a German food discount chain that first entered the Netherlands market in 1973. 50 years later it operates approximately 500 stores in the country with a 5.4% market share. It sells a highly-edited range of products with typically just one choice per food item. Products are merchandised within the cartons they are shipped in to minimize stocking costs. Aldi‘s Dutch website is informational only and does not function as a webshop.
#6 DIRK
The first Dirk van den Broek supermarket opened in Amsterdam in 1953. In 2009 the company merged with competitor Digros to form Detailresult Groep. The Dirk van den Broek, Digros and Bas van de Heijden nameplates went away in 2014 with all stores being rebranded to just Dirk. In 2022 Dirk had 130 stores and a 3.6% market share. Dirk does not sell through its website.
#7 HOOGVLIET
Expats in the north and south of the Netherlands may be unfamiliar with Hoogvliet the 7th largest Dutch supermarket chain. But awareness is high in the Randstad region where Hoogvliet has 70+ locations and 1.1 million customers. In 2022 Hoogvliet had a 2.0% share of Dutch supermarket sales. The company offers online ordering with option for home delivery or in-store pickup. Hoogvliet is a member of the SuperUnie buying cooperative.
#8 VOMAR
Vomar Voordeelmarkt is well-established in the province of North Holland where the bulk of its 95 stores are located. It accounts for approximately 2.0% of Dutch supermarket sales. It is a member of the SuperUnie buying cooperative. Vomar does not offer online ordering.
#9 SPAR
SPAR originated in Holland some 90 years ago but nowadays is a global brand with activities in 48 different countries including the UK, Ireland, Hungary, Ukraine and Austria (where it is the #1 food retailer). SPAR Netherlands had sales of €829 million in 2021 giving it a 1.9% share of the Dutch market. Its network of 453 stores includes a wide range of formats including full supermarkets, neighborhood grocery stores, gas station convenience shops and in-company automats. SPAR offers online ordering with store pickup or home delivery in most locations. It is a member of the SuperUnie buying cooperative.
#10 DEKAMARKT
Dirk Kat opened a full-serve food shop in 1941, followed by a self-serve grocery in 1949. In 1955 he opened his first supermarket in IJmuiden which later grew to become a chain. In 2009 Digros (Dekamarkt’s parent company) merged with the Dirk van den Broek supermarket chain under a new umbrella organization Detailresult Groep. Today the Dekamarkt division has approximately 80 locations spread across the provinces of North Holland, South Holland, Gelderland, Overijssel and Flevoland. It accounts for 1.7% of Dutch retail food and drink sales. Dekamarkt offers home delivery in most of the geographic areas it serves. It is a member of the SuperUnie buying cooperative.
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