The Gazette September 2024

Page 1


Hanging on to summer

Between you and me

Julia from Indonesia

Alysson, Belgian petanque champion

Lien and Loïc, our Olympic hockey athletes

Birth, marriage, cohabitation, pension and death

Flashback: visit of Burundian coffee farmers in 2013

Wall of fame

Photo finish

Editorial

Dear colleagues,

Sustainability has been part of Colruyt Group's DNA for years and is an integral part of our corporate strategy. We want to make it easier for our customers to consume consciously. At the same time our activities as a retailer impact the environment, climate and society, etc. which is why we launch so many big and small initiatives that contribute to a more sustainable world.

I'm very proud of what we're already doing. And that is nothing short of remarkable! But by going that extra mile, making more choices, formulating our policies and plans and making our efforts more visible to the outside world, we'll undoubtedly make great strides in the coming year. And together with our partners we'll succeed in making a positive impact on the entire chain.

Goals have been set for each of our three sustainability drivers, i.e. product, infrastructure and people. 27 in all, and we'll focus on seven this year. They range from reducing our carbon emissions and selling more plant-based proteins to being able to prove that private-label products are produced humanely.

We'll actively work on these goals in all our operating units and measure and monitor progress. This is a massive undertaking but it will give us a wealth of insights and teach us what efforts we can use to make the biggest change.

We also want to keep you informed about our progress and results. Because you too are involved. You too can help make a difference through small efforts and considered choices. This way, we help to create a more sustainable society together.

Circulation: Dutch 21,500 copies • French: 15,000 copies

Chief editor: Benoit Van Trimpont

Final editing: Valerie Janssens and Benoit Van Trimpont

Design: Veronique Devoghel and Virginia Rahoens

Photography: Katleen Van Den Eede

Picture editing: Joyce Vanhoutte

Publication manager: Stefanie Geeroms

PUBLISHER: Colruyt Group NV • Edingensesteenweg 196, B-1500 Halle

Telephone: +32 (0)2 363 55 45

WW: 106579

Printed on FSC Mix Credit with partly recycled fibre. Contact The Gazette via gazet@colruytgroup.com or send a direct to GAZET.

On the cover: Experience Manager Marina Bockstal serving our first Belgian mussels of the season at Cuit Dilbeek.

COLOPHON

Five questions about TOP promos

Offering the best deals of the moment. That's what Colruyt Lowest Prices wants to achieve with its TOP promos. With massive discounts like 1 + 1 or 2 + 1 free, they put their brand promise in the spotlight and continue to convince customers that Colruyt has the lowest prices and best deals.

Why did Colruyt launch TOP promos?

“The Belgian retail market has evolved strongly in recent years,” Project Manager Arnoud Jacobs says. “Competitors use strong deals to put pressure on Colruyt’s lowest price promise: they launch special deals, and our prices follow suit but our promotions are less visible for the consumer because of this. The idea behind our TOP promos is to change this perception. And the magical word ‘free’ really does make a difference in the minds of promo-sensitive customers. We stuck to percentages because our principle is that nothing is really free. Now, these promotions are common practice and we are jumping on the bandwagon.”

How do we put these deals in the spotlight?

“No expenses are spared. (laughs) You can't miss it in our two-weekly folder and the sleeve around it. And online they're also showing up regularly. You can recognise them in our stores in Belgium and Luxembourg by the eye-catching marketing material. In every store, one fixed shelf head is reserved for this purpose, which means customers will find these items in the same place every time. Every fresh market has a display. And usually a pallet is reserved for products sold on a pallet, like certain beverages.”

Which products come into consideration?

“Pretty amazing! Several promotions achieved the greatest peak ever, better than any other deals. Sometimes we sell up to 20 to 30 times more of these products! The TOP promos also stimulate the sale of other products in their category as well as those brands, thus increasing the revenue of our stores. Sometimes it even causes stock problems and we're unable to meet demand. This is probably something we can still work on. Another concern is the production of waste. We continue to evolve in other aspects too. The good results mean that from 2025, TOP promo will go up a notch by organising eight instead of four promotions per folder period. The aim of our TOP promos, in addition to the lowest prices, is to ensure customers keep coming to Colruyt!” 1 2 3 4 5

“We chiefly aim for strong brands and products purchased by a broad target audience allowing us to reach a lot of customers. Variation is therefore very important for our TOP promos. The products are chosen in close consultation with our suppliers to (together) create a great deal for our customers. To be a TOP promo, the discount has to be considerable: at least 2 + 1, preferably 1 + 1 free. This is the only way to really pique our customers' interest. Although an exception can be made in specific cases.”

What services are involved in this?

“This is an important initiative demanding a lot of collaboration between different departments. Marketing provides the promotional material, the purchasers negotiate great deals with the suppliers for a varied offer, stock management ensures the stores receive enough stock, Supply Chain ensures an efficient supply of the extra volumes, Technics organises the store areas in a short space of time, etc. And, to sell the promos, our sales colleagues count on our Colruyt stores. It's great to see how we can count on the enthusiasm, entrepreneurship and cooperation of so many colleagues for this project! And a big thumbs up to the project team to complete this project that has had such a big impact in such a short time!”

How have the first results been?

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

Three questions for Toon Hermans, MyComfort24 Manager

Activities of MyComfort24 ceased. Why?

Toon • “‘In 2015, Colruyt Group took a stake in MyComfort24, an online specialist in underwear and bath and bed textiles, to grow it into a leading player in its segment. But further growth proved to be quite elusive in recent years. After COVID, people started to spend more on their leisure activities and less on non-food and textiles. And the energy crisis also made our products and service more expensive. The e-commerce market context in textiles was also too challenging for a structurally sustainable future. Moreover, this stake of 90 % does not align enough with Colruyt Group's strategic objectives and vision of the future. Alternative scenarios to revive MyComfort24 did not lead to a successful outcome.”

How was the clearance sale?

“Very good! We sold out just about the entire stock of ± 22,000 items in a month and a half thanks to some interesting promotions. It was a lot of work. I'm particularly proud of the team for achieving this! It was great to see how motivated they were right up to the end to bring the clearance sale to a successful conclusion. They didn't see the closure coming either. We helped them as much as possible in their search for a new job. Most already have a new job, either inside or outside the group. Their expertise in e-commerce means they are very much in demand on the Belgian market.”

How do you look back at your time at MyComfort24?

“I was the manager for 14 years, first of MyUnderwear24, then of MyComfort24. I did it with great enthusiasm and motivation, but it was always a struggle to compete against big foreign competitors. In the underwear market we were among the top three in the Benelux. And I'm very proud of that. I would therefore like to thank everyone who contributed to this story of MyComfort24 over the past years!”

Small change to encourage big changes

Colruyt Group has been a loyal partner of the Belgian Federation of Food Banks for almost 30 years. The Federation of Food Banks is committed to the fight against hunger and food loss and provides food aid to about 214,000 people in need every month. All year we donate our food surpluses to the Food banks and other social organisations. Last year this amounted to about 7,850 tonnes. “In the food retailer domain we are ‘best-in-class’, and through our sustainable approach inspire other European countries,” food donation coordinator Anne Verdoolaege says.

From 9 to 22 October, we're also counting on our customers: in our Colruyt, Okay and Bio-Planet stores, customers can very easily donate two euros (or multiples thereof) to the Food banks via a bar code or QR code. Donations can also be made at Collect&Go's collection points and web shop.

And of course we're also counting on you, dear colleagues. You too can donate two euros in one of our stores. Or in our work canteens: donations can be added to your shopping via the check-out screen from 9 October. Thanks!

NEW

Non-alcoholic Cara available now

Cara, our popular private-label beer, was given a non-alcoholic little brother last summer. This means the Cara family now has four members: Cara Pils, Cara Blond, Cara Rouge and Cara 0.0, as of today. “The popularity of non-alcoholic beverages is no longer a secret,” beer purchaser Dieter De Brackeleer explains. “In the past year, one in three customers bought a non-alcoholic alternative at Colruyt, whereas only one in five did so a year ago." Not surprisingly, Colruyt saw a 20 % increase in sales of non-alcoholic beers. The range has also been expanded significantly: we now sell 32 nonalcoholic beers, including 14 Pilsner beers. Colruyt launched Cara in 1980 as a great value-for-money Pilsner beer. The brand has now grown into a cult brand loved by young and old alike. Cara 0.0 is available in all Colruyt stores in Belgium and Luxembourg, and at Comarkt. A can costs 0.49 euros.

Jims: exercising with confidence

To provide all members with a safe exercise space, Jims is investing in automatic external defibrillators (AED) in all gyms in Belgium and Luxembourg. The defibrillators will be with the first-aid box. They are safe and easy to use, even by people without a medical background, because they give spoken instructions that lead the reanimator through the process step by step. They're also multilingual and watertight, have a child proof lock, and the speakers adapt to the surrounding noise. The defibrillators are also accessible to passers-by during the clubs' opening hours. All Jims staff members receive special training to be able to intervene and administer initial care quickly in case of heart failure. In Belgium about 30 people suffer cardiac arrests outside hospitals every day, and only 5 to 10 % survive it. By starting CPR within 3 to 5 minutes and using an AED, the victim's survival rate goes up to 70 %.

Tested: Bio-Planet in Colruyt store

Last summer, the Colruyt stores of Halle and Heverlee stocked a limited assortment of Bio-Planet products. Plant-based products were presented in the shelves, and Colruyt customers were given a taster of the wider product range at our organic supermarket by way of a test. Marketing communication in the store prompted customers to explore Bio-Planet to find out more. This collaboration increases Bio-Planet's brand recognition, increases the visibility of the range for a large target audience and allows it to tap into a new clientele. Meanwhile, Colruyt's expertise about organic products is growing thanks to the Bio-Planet colleagues.

New digital assistant

Colruyt, Okay and Bio-Planet store workers are getting a new DSA or digital store assistant. Not a Samsung, but a Zebra TC27. The devices have considerable benefits for users: the hardware scanner makes scanning bar codes easier, facial recognition means you no longer need a PIN code to unlock your personal DSA, and internet access ensures you always have a wealth of information close at hand.

Telex

• Peter Vanbellingen was appointed COO Group Services on 1 September. In this position he is responsible for IT, Technics, Data & Analytics, Digital Factory, Marketing Communication Services, Customer Services and Symeta Hybrid.

• From 1 October and after a training period, Peter will be succeeded by our new IT Director, Pascal Pauwels, a man with 30 years of international experience in IT who worked at Inter Ikea Group in the Netherlands.

• Flu jabs are available again from 4 November. We're using an online registration system (except for store workers). Not registered yet? Talk to your superior before 30 September.

• DATS 24 installed a new electric charging plaza with six dynamic quick chargers at the Colruyt Halle car park. More charging plazas will be built later this year.

• Collect&Go kicked off the new school year with a nicely filled back to school box, including some delicious snacks. Children were able to colour in the sleeve around the box. Great idea!

• A baby was born at the Colruyt Boncelles car park at the start of July. The mother didn't make it to hospital on time and gave birth in the car park. Mum and baby are doing fine!!

Drop by, we're open!

“Meal times are the best times”

Anyone who went to Wenduine at the coast this summer was able to check out the newly built Spar supermarket. The old store was completely demolished and rebuilt into a modern, sustainable supermarket. Hilde Leenknegt and Ivan Kuyle, an entrepreneurial couple with more than 25 years of experience as supermarket managers, are at the helm. “We believe meal times are the best times. That is why we focus on an extensive range of charcuterie, cheese, fresh meat and ready-made food, which we prepare, cut and package on site. Our pistolets and baguettes rise and are baked off in the bakery department. The result is crispy and delicious bread.”

Openings

24/7/24 Colruyt (+ Collect&Go) Lessines 03/8/24 Bike Republic Asse 11/9/24 Colruyt (+ Collect&Go) Braine-le-Comte

18/9/24 Bio-Planet Sint-Gillis 18/9/24 Colruyt (+ Collect&Go) Chimay

Reopenings

27/6/24 Spar ....................................................................... Wenduine

03/7/24 Colruyt (+ Collect&Go) Virton 05/7/24 Okay Knesselare

08/7/24 Jims Kortrijk

10/7/24 Colruyt (+ Collect&Go) Lochristi 12/7/24 Okay Boutersem

15/7/24 Jims Zelzate

31/7/24 Colruyt (+ Collect&Go) Waremme 02/8/24 Okay Pecq 21/8/24 Okay Passendale

14/8/24 Colruyt (+ Collect&Go) Molenbeek

11/9/24 Colruyt (+ Collect&Go) Geel

19/9/24 Spar Wildert 25/9/24 Okay Paal

Knesselare
Molenbeek
Chimay
Virton

Moving Moms

“Sensible exercise during and after pregnancy is just as important as choosing a good baby name. It's the basis for a great story.” These are the words of Katrien Vandamme, pre- and postnatal training specialist at Jims. Jims recently launched the Moving Moms project, which supports women during and after their pregnancy through tailor-made training courses and follow-up by care professionals. “Exercising during and after pregnancy has many advantages,” says Katrien. “Less pelvic, lower back, shoulder and neck pain, better circulation and therefore more oxygen and nutrients for your baby. Also, by strengthening your muscles and making your body more resilient, you can cope better with the strain of pregnancy and childbirth. Moreover, exercise has a preventative effect on gestational diabetes and premature birth, among others.”

Do you also want to be a ‘moving mom’? That's possible from the first quarter prenatal up to the delivery, and from 6 weeks postnatal to approximately 12 months after delivery. Find out on jims.be which clubs you can go to for a free trial lesson and/or specialised training and guidance tailored to your needs.

First-aid workshop for babies and young children

Colruyt Group Academy is pleased to announce an upcoming first-aid workshop next autumn, focusing on how to provide first aid to babies, young children, and pregnant women - as this requires a slightly different approach. During this workshop, an instructor from EHBO Vlaanderen explains how to apply the most important first aid techniques in such cases. What should you do in case of a fall, burn, asphyxiation or poisoning? Or how do you put a pregnant woman in a recovery position? You learn how to keep a cool head and to make the right decisions quickly.

The test sessions were very promising and were met with great enthusiasm.

“The peace of mind I now feel as a parent is amazing,” says Kathlien Verlodt, mum of Otis and colleague at Marketing Communication Services.

Are you interested in this first-aid workshop? Check where and when you can sign up on colruytgroupacademy.be!

Colruyt launches huge back-to-school campaign

Radio, TV, billboards in the street and stores, social media, etc. Colruyt's new branding campaign has been everywhere. It focuses on how our supermarket has the lowest prices. “Households with children are Colruyt's main target audience, but this campaign is targeting millennials – born between 1980 and 1996 – with children,” marketer Carine De Pooter says. “September is often a very busy time for them, and that also means extra spending for the new school year. That's why we're focusing on four simple and affordable products: a quick spaghetti, a banana as a healthy snack, snack veggies for the lunch box and fresh boxes for a handy meal. In the campaign, store colleagues talk about their own experiences (see also page 32, editorial note).”

Did you know?

Career fair on 16 October

Looking for a new challenge within Colruyt Group? The possibilities are endless. Find out more at one of our career fairs, where store formats and departments present themselves and you can establish the first contacts. The next fair is on Wednesday 16 October from 15.00 to 17.30 at our Wilgenveld offices in Halle.

Scan this QR code and sign up now!

Last financial year's annual report (1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024) showed some impressive figures. They provide a picture of what we were working on together in that period.

A selection:

Training & Education

• We invested 40.8 million euros in training and education.

• Every co-worker received 34 hours of training on average.

• 1,708 colleagues took training for personal growth/ health.

• Our technical school gave 3,200 hours of training

• 300 co-workers entered a dual study pathway.

Sustainability

33,575 co-workers

Production at Fine Food

42,500 tonnes of meat

3,060 tonnes of spreads

37.3 million loaves of bread

21.1 million litres of wine

17,950 tonnes of cheese

7,300 tonnes of coffee

• 43,625 customers used their Eco-score savings points for environmental projects via the Xtra app.

• This translates into:

trees

m² flower meadow

Discover even more in the annual report on colruytgroup.com!

A voice for people living in poverty

The Network Against Poverty has 61 associations in Flanders and Brussels fighting structural poverty and social exclusion.

“There is plenty of talk about poverty, but little with people actually living in poverty,” general coordinator Heidi Degerickx says. “Poverty is not only about a lack of financial means but also about the lack of a solid social network. This is how people get isolated and why it's important that an organisation gives them a voice based on their experiences. In schools, in the press, but also the government. We make recommendations to policy makers on housing, education, activation in employment, etc.”

“We are increasingly viewing companies as key partners in the fight against poverty. Because our workforce also includes people who are not so well off. Our collaboration with Colruyt Group started in 2022. We carried out a poverty scan at the Ollignies distribution centre which allowed us to map areas for improvement and help managers in their approach. How do you recognise signs of poverty? And how do you keep

these workers in paid employment? Because often it's about breaking barriers.”

“This summer we finalised our Sterk Vrouwenwerk* project: a group programme that helps women with difficulties entering the job market to find permanent jobs in Colruyt Group stores, in collaboration with ZIJkant. By breaking down barriers, boosting their self-confidence, and receiving an exploratory internship and intense guidance three women started working at Colruyt and Okay Compact in Ghent and Antwerp. Seven others found a job elsewhere. This is a challenging process where Colruyt Group showed itself to be a committed partner that is open to an inclusive workplace and was motivated to make this project a success!”

More about help for workers with financial problems: see page 22.

* Sterk Vrouwenwerk was launched following the Bread & Roses project call with the support of the EU recovery and resilience plan, and the federal gender equality policy. www.sterkvrouwenwerk.be

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

“It's an intense, but great job”

Time flies. It's been just over a year since Stefan Goethaert took over as CEO from Jef Colruyt. “It was an intense first year, but I'm actually quite satisfied about how it went,” says Stefan. We look back, and forward, together.

Stefan, one year as CEO. How has that year changed your life?

Stefan • “It's been okay, nothing too crazy. (laughs) Although I have to admit it has had more of an impact than I thought it would. For a long time I clung to the idea that working in the weekend was not a good idea. Unfortunately, I've had to let that idea go (laughs). Yes, getting everything done requires quite some planning. And I've also noticed it never stops. Even when you don't expect it, you still have to be aware that anything might happen. Because you never stop being the CEO. But I'm very happy to be doing this job.”

“There might be a new CEO, but our strategy hasn't changed. It's simply the fact that more drastic choices were made” - Stefan

Suddenly you're managing a company that employs 33,500 people. That brings a lot of responsibility with it.

“True, but I've always had a great sense of responsibility. Not much has changed in that respect. Sometimes you have to make decisions that impact the lives of a lot of people, but you don't make those decisions alone of course. Managing a company is teamwork, with the whole management team. We can also align with the Board of Directors or fall back on Jef's experience if necessary. That's all fine. At a certain moment someone has to take responsibility though, and it's important

to me that I take it. For example, I wanted to be the person communicating about the sale of Dreambaby.”

Yes, the sale of Dreambaby was quite something last year. Did Stefan Goethaert have a hand in how that went?

“Well, yes and no. As CEO I played my role of course. And often that's how it's communicated in the media.

But these things are not decided in the space of a couple of weeks, we'd been working on it for a long time. And, again, I don't decide these things on my own. There might be a new CEO, but our strategy hasn't changed. Maybe more drastic choices were made in that we'll continue with some projects but discontinue others. All decisions are based on what kind of company we are: a person-oriented value-driven enterprise, with a long-term outlook. That remains important.”

What was it like having to deliver that message to our Dreambaby colleagues?

“We're talking about colleagues who've worked here for many years in some cases. The message wasn't easy but the intention behind it makes a huge difference. Don't forget that Dreambaby is not gone. We gave it the best chance of a new future with great perspectives. I'm still convinced it was the right decision.”

And how did you feel about the farmers' protests?

"That was an intense period, not just for me but also for our co-workers in supporting services, logistics and stores. But I also understood the situation our agricultural partners found themselves in and that's also the reason why we've been trying to launch projects with the agricultural sector for a number

“Sometimes you have to make decisions that impact the lives of a lot of people. But you don't make those decisions alone of course. Managing a company is teamwork, with the whole management team” - Stefan

of years. However, we've had to find out the hard way that the message of why and how we did that has not always come across. Certainly not in Wallonia. This is something we have to keep working on.”

Do you think your actions and communication during that period had an impact?

“‘The communication with farmers certainly helped, but that wasn't me alone. The fact that I communicated about it myself also shows that I believe it to be an important issue. But also that I supported our co-workers who were impacted by this.”

The acquisition of Match and Smatch was a positive story.

“It's quite spectacular how we achieved the conversion and opening of the Comarkt stores in a matter of weeks. Equally spectacular was how we swayed almost a thousand new co-workers, and gave them a taste of our unique culture. And ultimately for all our customers! Of course, it's still early days, we're not there yet: we're giving ourselves two to three years for everything to run smoothly. But with the current positive vibe and momentum, this project should succeed in boosting our market share.”

Jef felt it was better to stop after a year when things didn't go smoothly. Are you happy the numbers are better again?

“For sure, although that's not all down to me of course. A good year ago everything we did went under the microscope and stock market analysts didn't like what we were doing. A year on everything is different. It helps that we made certain choices last year of course, prompting them to say that we're more

focused on our core business again. The acquisition of Match and Smatch reaffirms that, so to speak. But actually, we were already working on that a year ago as well. My first year was all about finding out what was in the pipeline. But you have to push it through too of course. (laughs)”

Is that difficult year finally behind us?

“We have indeed just had a good year and the result are like before. But it remains a challenge to stay on that level. It's not going to be easy and we're going to have to work for it.”

“Partners of co-workers who have worked here for years, sometimes tell us how important Colruyt Group has been for them. It tells you what the company means for some people. That's nice to hear!” - Stefan

Where do you want to see more changes in the coming years?

“Digitisation is important. Some major communication projects are in the pipeline for example. We've also been hammering on about sustainability for a long time. If we want to remain a pioneer, we're going to have to step up. If we don't we'll be overtaken and left chasing. That's also why we took the very important step of establishing 27 sustainability goals. All that's left now is achieving them. And then there's automation:

Coming soon: webinar with Stefan

This autumn we'll organise an online session with Stefan Goethaert for all colleagues. He'll talk about his role as CEO and the challenges facing our group. If you have any questions, shoot!

Keep an eye on your mailbox! And don't miss this webinar.

finding enough people to get everything done is a challenge. Our company employs roughly 33,000 people at the moment, but it's still not easy to fill all vacant positions. Automation can be an alternative.”

Health is also very important to you, isn't it?

“Absolutely! We're still expecting growth in the health sector – thanks to Newpharma and Jims – but also in combination with the food sector. We've already taken some steps to link our recipes to Jims and Collect&Go. But this is also possible in terms of the assortment in our stores, or through the services we offer. Plenty of initiatives have been launched for coworkers, not so for customers. We have a strong reputation as Colruyt Group, but too few people make the link with health. We need to improve this.”

You're CEO now. Do you notice people behaving differently to you?

“Well, sometimes I guess. However, I need honest and good information to make decisions. Both the positives and the negatives. Sometimes people highlight the positives too much. And then I have to keep probing to get the information I need. I also had a habit of saying hello when I came across someone in the building. Now everyone knows me, and it can be annoying that I don't always know who they are. It's simply too many names to remember though. (laughs)”

“The results are like before again. But it remains a challenge to stay on that level. It's not going to be easy and we're going to have to work for it” - Stefan

Are there any aspects you like less about the job?

“Being on TV or at big events is not my thing, but I don't mind it either. In fact, I think it's important to show up from time to time. Hopefully, they'll be talking to us about health matters too soon. And maybe we'll get some more attention in Wallonia too.”

What have you learned from informal conversations with co-workers?

“I always enjoy chatting to co-workers, regardless of where they work. For example, at the award ceremony I often talk to partners of co-workers who have been working here for years and who say how important Colruyt Group has been to them. It tells you what the company means for some people. They're unforgettable moments and it's great to hear!”

Jef promised never to be the nosy father-in-law. Has he kept his promise?

“Yes, he has. (laughs) Of course, he's still closely involved and interested, but he doesn't interfere with day-to-day management. And we talk a lot. Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO, that sounds like a tandem. And for us it works!”

Last question, do you still have time for your hobbies?

“I try to make a point of playing music from time to time, taking time out for my family, playing sports and exercising. You have to be fit to do this job.”

Text: Valerie Janssens & Benoit Van Trimpont

Spread your wings, Collibri

Collibri Foundation will be renamed Colruyt Group Foundation this autumn. This major step demands a new strategy. “In addition to community projects, we'll also support good causes that focus on health, biodiversity and the environment,” Alizée Du Bus de Warnaffe, Colruyt Group Foundation Manager discloses.

How far has Collibri Foundation come?

“Collibri Foundation was founded roughly 20 years ago. Private-label products with a Collibri Foundation seal have been available to customers since 2005. Five percent of sales goes to education projects. Because this is the foundation's mission: education, support and exchanges of youngsters living in difficult situations, both in Belgium and abroad. Collibri Foundation still supports 28 projects today. Last year we spent almost 2.2 million euros on these projects.”

Where does Colruyt Group Foundation want to be?

“We want to align our foundation more closely with the business strategy and our sustainability goals. Supporting youngsters remains the core of our activities anyway, that won't change. A sustainable future starts with today's youngsters. By supporting training and education projects for youngsters, we want to offer them opportunities for a successful future. We're also broadening the themes we focus on to include environment, biodiversity and access to healthy food for people living in vulnerable circumstances. But this requires additional resources of course. Every year, we already invest about 2 million euros in the projects and we want to double that amount. We're also going to involve our co-workers more closely, for instance through the mentorship of projects or language support.”

Which projects does the foundation support?

“As corporate foundation of Colruyt Group, whose core business is food retail, we focus primarily on making our food chain more sustainable in terms of the environment, society, health and animal welfare. More specifically, that means encouraging sustainable consumption in Belgium, but also supporting sustainable production and agriculture in Belgium and the countries of origin. We also facilitate access to healthy and sustainable food for communities in vulnerable circumstances. This is why we're broadening the type of projects we support: innovation projects, both small and larger initiatives and both start-up projects and mature projects that have already proven their added value, etc. come into consideration now. They can submit a dossier, which is followed by an in-depth analysis based on interviews, a site visit and a screening by our advisory board. What is the potential long-term added value of the project? Does it fit within our strategy? We invest for at least three years to give the project time to grow and to measure its evolution.”

What is its new mission?

“Colruyt Group Foundation empowers people to make a meaningful contribution for a positive and sustainable future. We want to connect and inspire people. The foundation also wants to act as a bridge between complementary non-profit organisations and stakeholders to thus build a network that encourages collaboration. For instance, having three separate organisations investigate how (un)healthy school canteens are today is not efficient. Let's work together. We also believe we have to be pioneers by taking risks and trying new possible solutions. Like with Eight (see page 18, editor's note). We offer them the resources, the trust and the craftsmanship to give their business every chance of success.”

How can co-workers help?

“Well, there's our savings programme of course which allows you to use your Eco-score savings points for a number of Belgian projects via the Xtra app. As a company, apart from financial donations, we also want to offer the projects support by giving them access to Colruyt Group's network, infrastructure and experience. Who knows what valuable cross-fertilisation is possible when our health or agriculture colleagues exchange their know-how with charities? Some colleagues already mentor youngsters. Their social engagement gives our volunteers the opportunity to expand their network and develop their own skills. We want to expand these initiatives in the future, also in the form of team activities.”

Colruyt Group Foundation supports training and education projects for young people, the environment, biodiversity and access to healthy food for people living in vulnerable circumstances. Together, we contribute to a better societystep by step.

4 projects for

NOJAVEL

Healthy, organic food surpluses for people living in poverty

Target group

Bruxellois in poverty (Belgium)

Term

2024 – 2027

What's the aim of this project?

“NOJAVEL was established in 2016 as a protest against supermarkets putting bleach in their bins to prevent people getting food out of containers,” Lauriane Boes, Project Coordinator at Colruyt Group Foundation explains. “NOJAVEL collects fresh, organic and vegetarian food surpluses from supermarkets and farmers. They distribute this quality food to people living in poverty, both directly and through 20 other Brussels-based organisations. Did you know Bio-Planet Braine-l'Alleud was their first partner to donate food surpluses?”

What are they good at?

• For and by people who live or lived in poverty.

• Access to healthy food for people who otherwise cannot afford it.

• By appointment, no queues.

• Personal advice about healthy food, cooking tips, diabetes, etc.

• In addition to a basic package, beneficiaries can also choose certain items.

How do they make a difference?

• NOJAVEL saves 250 tonnes of food surpluses a year.

• Every month, 1,000 households receive a full shopping cart of fresh food from NOJAVEL.

• 2,000 people can be added to this through the 20 organisations NOJAVEL works with.

• Volunteers make fresh soup for 60 people every day.

Eight

Money every month, no conditions

Target group

All residents of Daregba (Ivory Coast)

Term

2024 – 2027

What's the aim of this project?

“Farmers in Daregba receive a reference price for their cocoa from Colruyt Group, ensuring they earn a living wage,” Project Coordinator Adeline Michaux says. “In the same village, Collibri Foundation supports an agricultural training programme for women and youngsters. However, students regularly miss classes because they have to work and make money simply to survive. Eight proposes an ‘unconditional cash transfer’ as a solution: all villagers receive a monthly amount of cash they can spend freely, for example on food, chickens or repairing their roof. This project is a test and the foundation's first innovation project.”

What are they good at?

• Villagers receive the money as ‘mobile money’ via a mobile phone. This reduces the risk of corruption.

• The freedom to decide what to spend the money on increases emancipation, autonomy, empowerment and self-confidence.

How do they make a difference?

• 62 households receive 16 euros a month per adult, about 400 euros in Belgium. Per child the mother receives another 8 euros.

• After two years, we'll examine the project's impact on individual participants and the wider community of Daregba.

• Similar projects of Eight show a positive impact on quality of life, health, education, entrepreneurial spirit, collaboration and infrastructure.

a better future

Rising You

Young refugees with a passion for technique

Target group

OKAN students between 16 and 19 (OKAN = classes for non-native speaker newcomers) in Antwerp (Belgium)

Term

2024 – 2028

What's the aim of this project?

“In 2019, Rising You launched the TalentTrainer project: a mobile technical school that gives young refugees a taste of manual techniques, such as metal grinding, welding and cutting, woodworking, industrial painting and scaffolding,” says Project Coordinator Jelle Huwe. “This allows them to experience what they like and what they are good at. This three-month programme helps youngsters to discover their professional potential and eases the transition to a diploma and sustainable professional integration.”

What are they good at?

• Individual coaching helps participants create a realistic professional plan, in line with their ambitions and the labour market.

• Mainly aimed at technical in-demand professions, such as welding under special conditions, laying solar panels, asbestos removal, safety in the port, etc.

• Apart from technical skills, Rising You's training courses also focus on the challenges newcomers face, such as language and social and professional integration.

How do they make a difference?

• The TalentTrainer programme provides career guidance to 24 youngsters a year.

• 80 % of participants get a diploma or job.

Regenacterre

Together towards more sustainable agriculture

Target group

Belgian farmers

Term

2024 – 2027

What's the aim of this project?

“60 % of Belgian farmers want to work in a more ecofriendly way, but are held back by high costs, risks and lack of knowledge,” says Project Coordinator Adeline Michaux. “Regenacterre is focused on regenerative agriculture with an emphasis on soil improvement through crop rotation, ground cover plants and the minimal use of pesticides. Their academy currently reaches 40 farmers who are able to follow training courses and workshops taught by experts. The non-profit organisation also lobbies for policy changes, such as independent advisers paid by the government through advice vouchers.”

What are they good at?

• Regenacterre offers farmers concrete advice to improve soil health on their whole farm, based on holistic audits.

This advice combines an ecological transition with economic profit for the farmers.

• Training agricultural experts into neutral consultants to give more farmers access to independent advice.

How do they make a difference?

• By 2026 Regenacterre wants to help 260 farmers to improve 23,000 hectares of farmland.

Text:
Valerie Janssens

RPCG in summer mood

As befits tradition, Retail Partners Colruyt Group likes to kick off the summer with a genuine food truck festival. Food and drinks stands set up their wares on the site in Mechelen and provide colleagues with a refreshing aperitif, delicious chips, delectable snacks or yummy ice cream. The final of RPCG Universalis was also held this year: our own version of TV programme Homo Universalis where colleagues challenge each other in different assignments. If you lose, you’re out. The title of this first edition went to Product Group Manager Benjamin De Geyter. “Very original assignments, enthusiastic supporters and many congratulations,” he reacts proudly. The purpose of the initiative to connect people has certainly worked.

Photo:
Katleen Van Den Eede

Growing as people and in your profession

Hot off the press: the new training catalogue! Again, full of interesting courses and workshops that provide useful handholds to grow in terms of your craftsmanship and to develop as a person. Says Elodie De Backer, Learning & Development Team Manager.

Why a printed catalogue, Elodie?

Elodie • “A paper catalogue with a list of all our courses is very useful to browse through during personal talks or development interviews. Every two years we release a new version. But our offer is also constantly evolving of course. That's why the courses in this catalogue – together with an up-todate offer of specific specialised courses and e-learnings – are also available in the Academy.Store on our portal. The 2025 dates are now open! You can start planning.”

What themes deserve our attention?

“Skills such as self-knowledge and selfawareness are extra useful today. Courses on well-being and personal growth, which provide insights and teach you how to deal with your ‘unknowns’ and needs, increase that self-awareness. Communicative skills are always important: communicating in group, giving feedback, connecting communication, how to overcome one's fear of speaking? The attention for digitisation is new. A digital

What are your views on your commute?

How do you come to work? And how do you experience your commute? A mobility survey completed by our co-workers resulted in some interesting findings. “All companies with more than 100 co-workers are required by law to organise this survey for every site with more than 30 co-workers,” says Antoon Vander Putten, Co-worker Mobility Coordinator. “It provides useful data on commuting in Belgium for the government but the results are also valuable for us. The reasons to choose a particular means of transport, such as bicycle, public transport or carpooling, are very interesting. A careful analysis of the answers allows us to decide whether and where we need to adjust our mobility policy.”

Help in case of financial problems

17 October is the 'International Day for the Eradication of Poverty'. Some of our colleagues also struggle financially. “People sometimes feel ashamed when they're in this situation. The discretion of our support service The Connection will lower the boundary to tell us your story,” says Heidi Dockx of The Connection. “Colleagues come to us of their own accord, or the problem is broached when we talk to co-workers on long-term sick leave. We provide advice and assistance. For example, by referring them to a professional assistance network or organisations that help people with debts. Or by looking together what we can do.”

workplace requires new training on data: from handling IT in a secure way to e-learnings on artificial intelligence. And finally, workshops that encourage diversity and inclusion, such as language classes, and workshops on culture - which make you feel at home in the company - remain an important part.”

Can any co-worker follow courses?

“Absolutely, our catalogue lists courses and workshops that are useful for all co-workers. They are given the opportunity to take their development into their own hands and to talk to their manager about their learning needs. Lifelong learning is really embedded in Colruyt Group's DNA.”

16,483

This is the number of student workers who helped out over the summer months at our stores, support services and logistics and production sites. “This is the first time we digitised the flow of medical questionnaires and contracts,” Alexis Day of the wage department comments. “Now, we text a link to student workers to complete their medical questionnaire which is then immediately available to IDEWE, our external social department. The contracts are also sent digitally to the managers, which speeds up the process. And, student workers receive their information folder by mail, instead of on paper. Requiring far less paper!"

The indispensable people...

Clean sanitary facilities, an extensive salad bar selection, an office where everything works perfectly - these are all things we tend to take for granted. But where would we be without the cleaning, catering and building management co-workers? Our facility services colleagues tell their story.

…of the facility services

“Early in the morning I already clock in at the Fine Food Meat site to make coffee and bake off rolls and pastry. Then I take care of the orders. We may need some catering co-workers for a working lunch. But I also take care of the Solucious orders to make sure we're always well stocked. I'm happy to take on this responsibility and I'm proud of it. What I love about my job is the social contact I have every day with co- workers. How they can help me and my colleagues? Settling their bill correctly of course and putting the chairs back under the table when they're done eating. (laughs)”

“I love cleaning. At home or at work, I love it when everything is clean and tidy. It's important, right! Many people don't realise, but imagine if we weren't here. Who would clean the corridors, the changing rooms and the toilets? And at Fine Food Meat we have another important responsibility: preparing the production operators' work equipment. They can't work without it. Who's responsible for a fun atmosphere? Me of course! I'm always a ray of sunshine and I talk to everyone, colleagues and managers. There's a lot of mutual respect here, and I very much appreciate that.”

“Every morning I do my rounds at Hellebroek Office. I always write down as much as possible, because prevention is better than cure. But if I'm being honest, our job is unpredictable. When I get up in the morning I never know what the day will bring. A drain pipe may have burst and flooded the Jims gym. Or someone may have spilled a bowl of soup on cabling, causing a fuse to blow and leaving dozens of people unable to work. At times like that we're the first contact. We try to get there as soon as possible, but don't be afraid to talk to us if you need something. We can't solve everything, but we can talk to the right people.”

“I've been with the company for 32 years, three years of which at facility services. I manage about 25 people who are responsible for catering and cleaning at Fine Food Meat and Spreads. This is not to be underestimated, because in a production environment the requirements in terms of hygiene are even stricter than in an office environment. Working for the Fine Food production department is handy, because sometimes we have to provide lunch with a charcuterie platter. (laughs) Because I'm a manager I do my daily rounds on the sites that fall under my responsibility. Everyone knows they can always talk to me if they have problems with their material, questions about logistics or other issues. And, I often help out too.”

“I support the canteens of our support services buildings to develop concepts, such as the bakery and the salad bar. I visit the canteens to see where improvements are possible and check which new Boni products we can introduce to our coworkers. The main goal is to ensure that all our co-workers, both at the office and logistics sites, are able to choose from a delicious and varied lunch offer. Over the past months I've been working on aligning the assortments with the protein shift. For instance, there's always a vegan sandwich option now. My job is to inspire our canteen workers in this respect.”

Text: Jesse Van Pée /
Photo: Katleen Van Den Eede

Our profession • Belgian fish

Finally we have Belgian fish in our stores

A Belgian retailer without Belgian fish? That couldn't last. Bio-Planet now sells four types of fish, sustainably caught by fishermen working under a Belgian flag.

“Local

and sustainable is important for Bio-Planet”

“Local and sustainable fish, this is something Bio-Planet has to showcase,” says Davy Werdefroy, Purchaser at Bio-Planet. “We start with a test in six stores in West and East Flanders to see how customers react. The fish is available on Fridays and Saturdays, the busiest days in our stores, allowing us to target the largest possible group of customer. Customers can easily recognise the offer in our service counter: the packaging has a Belgian flag and the fish is in the spotlight in the store. Recipes are provided to give customers some inspiration. If it's a success we quickly want to expand it to all our stores.”

Text: Jesse Van Pée / Photo: Donaat Mortelmans

Evaluated in terms of sustainability

“As a Belgian retailer, we've been wanting to sell 'domestically caught' fish for a long time,” says Donaat Mortelmans, fisheries and aquaculture expert at our Farming department. “Provided it can be proven that the fish is sustainable. Because Colruyt Group only wants to sell wild fish certified by independent body MSC (Marine Stewardship Council, editor's note) or verified by the ILVO (Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, editor's note). That time has finally come. After a recent evaluation by the ILVO we now sell four types, sustainably caught by fishermen working under a Belgian flag. plaice, sole, lemon sole and monkfish.”

Out-and-out Belgian

“The fish's route from boat to plate, is completely Belgian. Immediately after the catch, fishermen gut the fish and put them on ice. On land, the fish are taken to the Belgian fish auction, where quality - appearance, smell, colour - and food safety are independently checked and the fish are sorted and weighed, among others. Our Belgian partner MultiFish buys the fish at the auction and processes and packages the fish. Does that mean we're only in contact with the fishermen through Multi-Fish? No, it doesn't! We actively talk to them, discuss our plans and try to align our needs and their activities. Wouldn't it be great if the fishermen could come and tell their story in our stores? This way, our customers get to experience the story behind the fish.”

Bio-Planet gets the credit

Encouraging the Belgian offer

As the only Belgian retail group, we ensure our selection contains as many Belgian food products as possible. The aim is to support our Belgian farmers socially and economically, and focus on local produce with low food miles. The same applies to fish. In the summer of 2023, we launched the first Belgian mussels, from our very own marine farm. Belgian fish at Bio-Planet is another step in embedding Belgian products in our offer.

“Bio-Planet, our organic supermarket, was on board immediately. Belgian fish will be available in the fresh food section, under ‘catch of the day’. The offer differs every week, depending on the catch. The four types are a great supplement to the existing assortment. Our customers are given an opportunity to try something else, other than salmon or cod, without the stress of having to choose from 30 types of fish. And the limited offer also means very little fish is lost.”

This Belgian fish is available in the Bio-Planet-stores of Aalst, Bruges, Destelbergen, Ghent, Kortrijk and Sint-Denijs-Westrem.

New offices for the IT department in India

In the technology park of the Indian city of Coimbatore, a new site ceremoniously opened its doors for our IT staff this summer. The start of a new chapter in the story of Colruyt Group India.

Room to grow

Colruyt Group has had its own office (‘IT Global Capability Center’) in the Indian metropolis of Hyderabad since 2007. About 650 IT people work here, as well as 150 self-employed consultants. In recent years, we've been using the Indian IT department more and more, for example, for the further development of the Xtra app. To enable further growth, we looked for additional office space and workers. The choice fell on Coimbatore, a city in the south with a population of three million, a two-hour flight from Hyderabad.

Coimbatore: ideal location

“In Coimbatore, we're able to recruit from a wider pool of potential workers than in Hyderabad, where there's a lot of competition among big international tech players,” Managing Director Hari Subramanian says. “The former textile city is a booming IT hub today, with many university graduates, young graduates and trainees. And has a rich and diverse entrepreneurial culture. Colruyt Group can still gain a foothold in this rapidly evolving environment and stay one step ahead of the competition.”

Mix of experience and young talent

In the centrally located office building, Colruyt Group India is leasing a floor covering 750 m², which can accommodate up to a hundred workers or so. About 40 are already working here: software engineers and developers, solution analysts, architects, etc. Some experienced colleagues from Hyderabad, but mostly newly hired people. They included about youngsters who joined us after their internship in Hyderabad.

Prosperous future

The office was officially opened in early July by our IT Director Peter Vanbellingen, Hari Subramanian, Head of Colruyt Group India, guests of honour such as Belgian ambassador Didier Vanderhasselt and many more. The 250 guests included important representatives from the education and IT sector, and of course co-workers and family members. The highlight was a traditional ceremony where the guests of honour lit candles to secure a prosperous future for the company.

Continuity guaranteed

Colruyt India offsets the shortage of IT talent in Belgium. The department helps maintain the entire IT infrastructure and thus guarantees the crucial continuity of our systems. This maintenance often has to be done outside normal working hours in Belgium, when colleagues in India are working. This is an added bonus, especially now that the maintenance windows for websites and applications are getting smaller all the time because they're in use pretty much around the clock.

Strategic importance

“This second site is of strategic importance for Colruyt India and for the entire group,” says Hari Subramanian. “We're strengthening our ambition and capacity to continue creating added value for the group, with a strong focus on digital transformation. Peter Vanbellingen adds: “By opening this site, Colruyt Group seeks to promote further sustainable growth in India. We're confident that our IT story will continue to be a success in Coimbatore.”

Colruyt India

Showing a lot of bottle

Did you enjoy a cold beer or coke on your terrace last summer? If so you probably put the colleagues of our stores and the return centre in Ghislenghien to work. Every they day process about 16,000 crates and 400,000 empties. That's quite something!

Back to the store

2 1

“Customers bring their empty bottles and crates to the store and in exchange they receive a ticket with the value of the return deposit,” says Donovan Kestens, Assistant-Store Manager at Okay Roosdaal. “We check to make sure the bottles you return are eligible for a return deposit. Separate bottles go into the green folding crates, empty crates immediately go into the roll container. At Colruyt stores the empties area is much bigger of course, and Jupiler and cola crates, for example, are stacked on a pallet. We collect about two carts a day in our store. If there was an event nearby, or after a sunny weekend, we can tell by the number of empties. (laughs) Full shopping cart? We make sure everything is stacked securely, so that the lorry driver – who picks up the empties – doesn't have any nasty surprises when they have to brake suddenly.”

Welcome to Ghislenghien

“All empties from Colruyt, Okay and Solucious come to our return centre,” says operator Jordan Poglajen. “We process it in two shifts and per shift watch 200,000 bottles and 8,000 crates pass! That's a lot, believe me. And the better the weather, the more work we have. The Euros or World Cup? Interesting deals in the stores? That too we notice. One to two weeks later our workload rockets. (laughs) And we may have to start working at 5 a.m. already. During that extra hour we can easily process up to 30,000 bottles.”

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

4

A full cart

“The crates arriving in the grey trolleys go to one of the workstations with a rolling conveyor at knee height. At a glance I can analyse how the crates were stacked in the cart and decide on what to take out first, without crates falling or tipping over. To relieve our backs, we use lifting techniques: for example, we turn with the direction of the belt.”

A full crate

“Loose bottles of regional beers, for example, arrive in green folding crates. We manually put them on a conveyor belt. There are a maximum of eight people on a line, to be sure the line can follow. Because every colleague empties about 80 crates an hour, in peak periods up to 100. That's a lot of bottles! And it's not easy on the body: fortunately we apply ergonomic techniques and use earplugs against the noise.”

A full pallet

“Pallets fully stacked with crates of empty bottles are put on a conveyor belt straight from the truck. The crates are automatically transported to colleagues who prepare them for the suppliers using the forklift truck.”

The right route

“Each crate on the conveyor goes through a scanner, which directs the crate to where it needs to be. When 70 crates of beer or cola or 100 crates of Spa have been collected, they are sent to a robot which automatically stacks them on a pallet. Less frequent crates such as Westmalle or Estaminet are stacked manually.”

In the right crate

“A scanner detects the shape of the bottles: for instance, Duvel and La Chouffe can go in the same crate. The most common shapes are automatically sent to a robot that fills the crates. For bottles of regional beers in smaller quantities this is done manually. Each bottle is quickly deposited in the corresponding crate. Full? The conveyor transports it to the right pallet. In fact empty crates of several types of beer are stocked in our hall. They are filled so that empties can be returned to the supplier.”

Back to the supplier

“All full pallets are stacked outside to form a wall of crates. Ready to be returned to the breweries and drinks suppliers,” says Geert Borremans, ILP Planning Manager (Incoming Logistics planning). “We agree with our suppliers when and how often they pick up their empties at our return centre. For Jupiler crates that's every day, for example, for Orval once a week. We also order empty crates to return the thousands of loose bottles. They can then be filled and returned to our stores.”

The stars of our TV commercials

One loves VTM soap Familie, the other is a fan of French comedy actor

Louis de Funès. But in the meantime, Julie Hubrechts, butcher manager at Colruyt Bilzen, and Cedric Wuestenberghs, store manager at Colruyt Vilvoorde, are the stars of Colruyt's TV commercials.

You've hit the small screen. How did they find you?

Cedric • “We received an email that said they were looking for people to feature in a commercial around the start of the new school year. I thought: let's go for it, and we'll see. (laughs) I sent, as requested, a short clip to introduce myself.”

Julie • “That's how it went for me too. By mail we were asked which butchers wanted to collaborate in a commercial about the barbecue season. I read the mail very late, and recorded a short clip there and then. Successfully so, it seems. (laughs)”

Did you expect to be selected?

Cedric • “No, I didn't know how many candidates there were either. And how many people they were looking for.”

Julie • “Me? Never! They won't travel to faraway Bilzen, I thought. But after a month I was told I'd been selected.”

How did the recordings go?

Julie • “They were so much fun! We did a deep-clean of the butcher's shop before they came. Everything had to be spic and span! I received the scenario and my lines, but luckily I was allowed to give it a personal touch. I was allowed to use my own words and everything looked spontaneous. It makes the whole thing more personal.”

Cedric • “I had already featured in commercials at Christmas and Easter. But that was a while ago. And I didn't have many lines. That made it extra fun this time around. A store manager is like the face of the store, isn't he.”

Julie • “I was quite stressed. We had to reshoot my scene quite a few times. But the team was very helpful and reassured me. And there were a lot of them: a director, cameraman, sound man, marketing colleagues. A whole team… And don't forget all the customers and colleagues. Because the recordings were made during the store's opening hours.”

It caused quite a commotion in the store.

Cedric • “It sure did! Both colleagues and customers were quite excited. It doesn't happen every day, right!”

Did you get any good reactions?

Julie • “You can say that again! Customers came to me especially to tell me I'd done a great job. And that 'my performance' comes across as very spontaneous. I'm also very enthusiastic by nature. And you can tell in the commercial. I hadn't told everyone I was going to be on TV. I received lots of lovely messages from friends and family. I really hadn't expected that. But it's still weird seeing yourself on TV.”

Cedric • “I hadn't told many people about it either. But people also came up to me. And made funny comparisons with some great actors. They laughingly call me the George Clooney of Colruyt at times. (laughs)”

It seems like it was a great experience. Would you do it again?

Cedric • “Absolutely! I've worked at Colruyt for 18 years now. For me it was an opportunity to show that I'm proud of the company and my job, and that I'm happy to be working here.”

Julie • “True! I was able to put our profession as butcher in the spotlight. And as a woman too. Because there are not many female butchers. And I was able to show people that we're proud of our barbecue assortment. Because it receives positive reactions. So yes, I'll happily do it again. It was a unique experience.”

You never know... Hollywood here I come!

Cedric • “I'm not that bothered. I do like comedies –with Louis de Funès for example – but I don't have any ambitions to do more. (laughs)”

Julie • “I'm a big fan of Familie. Don't get me wrong, I also love my job. But they can always call me if they want me to make a guest appearance! (laughs)”

Watch the commercial with Cedric here
... and with Julie

Butchers newly outfitted

After 20 years of loyal service, the uniforms our butchers wear at Colruyt

Lowest Prices are making way for a brand-new outfit. Meat Expert Glenn dHooghe explains the benefits.

Time for new outfits!

“The previous uniform was based on the traditional butcher's concept, when we still served customers. That look is outdated. The new outfit has a more modern look, which suits our catering-based approach. We're moving away from the white uniform and the dark red neck apron. We now have a dark grey uniform, and red for Butcher Managers.”

Comfort of colleagues comes first

“Over the space of a year and a half, the clothing of two suppliers was tested in a dozen shops. Butchers were able to provide feedback regarding the models and the fabric. Based on their feedback, improvements were made to make the clothing more comfortable for co-workers. We received some remarks about the apron. We made the ribbons longer and provided loops on the side to tighten the apron better.”

Ready for roll-out

“This autumn we started rolling out the work clothing. Approximately 65,000 aprons and vests were ordered for 3,000 colleagues: by early 2025, all our butchers will be wearing the new uniform. What about the old uniforms? The old uniforms will be dry-cleaned and the quality will be checked. Work clothing that still passes muster is sent to our colleagues in France - who will wear the old uniforms a little while longer - or to projects in Africa to improve working conditions in kitchens.”

Flexible and stretchy fabric that provides better protection against temperature fluctuations

Sleeves that can be rolled up

Pockets for easy use

“10 out of 10 for the new uniform”

Yasmina El Bakkali, butcher at Colruyt Jette, the new uniform is an immediate success. “Our butcher's department was part of the pilot project,” she says. “We've been testing the new uniform and everyone is very happy with it. All colleagues agree: this uniform is a huge improvement. The fit is great and I'm never cold anymore thanks to the thick fabric. A big 10 out of 10 for me!”

“Enthusiastic reactions of customers”

The butchers at Colruyt Halle have also been testing the new uniforms. “The new uniforms immediately reminded me of a chef's vest,” Butcher Manager Wouter Veys says. “Really good! Apart from a couple of highlights, it's completely black, from the hat to the shoes. A stylish and cleaner look, because you can't see the dirt on it as easily. The striking red that Butcher Managers wear takes some getting used to, but I'm very happy. The fabric is sturdier and more comfortable. Customers also like the new outfit. We received many enthusiastic reactions and compliments. We did notice that the apron falls off easily, but a solution has been found. I've just passed on our measurements, and look forward to the final, optimised versions!’!”

Reinforced collar for men (more comfort with stubble)

BCI-certified cotton + recycled and bio-based polyester = lower environmental footprint

Longer life

Butcher Manager

Black shoes look nicer with the new work clothing

Waist apron

This was the summer of 2024

Rain or shine, some of our group's successful initiatives brightened up the summer of 2024! Before autumn starts, soak up the atmosphere at Cuit, Solucious and Colruyt Group Academy.

Belgian mussels

Successful second mussel harvest

On 21 June, Colruyt Group kicked off the Belgian mussel season in tasty fashion. For the second consecutive year, mussels from our marine farm were available at Cuit, the eatery of Cru, our fresh market, and – for the first time – also at various restaurants. Ambassador Sam D’Huyvetter of Bar Bask in Ghent made various preparations of these delectable molluscs. On the stove, in the oven or on the barbecue? Doesn't matter how they're prepared, they're always tasty. Chefs of L’Amandier in Genval, Cafe du Parc in Ostend, De Spelleplekke in Nieuwpoort, etc. also had high praise for the creamy, salty and spicy taste of the mussels. Home chefs were able to get these mussels exclusively from Cru all summer. “The second season was also a success,” Operational Manager Stijn Van Hoestenberghe laughs. “With 50 tonnes of farmed mussels on about 30 lines, the harvest was eight times greater than previous summer. And, there is room to gradually expand to 150 mussel lines. This will allow us to cater for many more gourmets in the coming years!”

Solucious Family day

Creative day camps Entertainment and great SOlympics final

Our Belgian mussels were also enjoyed during Solucious' family day at the end of June. Our food service co-workers and their families met up in Vilvoorde. While the children were having fun in the ball pool, on the bouncy castles or having their faces painted, the adults played petanque or chatted on the summer terrace. “The high point was also the SOlympics final,” Communication Manager Inne Impens recalls. “In May and June, team building activities were organised at all our sites. Teams of five competed against each other in physical tests linked to our values and jobs in logistics and transport. Per hub or distribution centre, one team advanced to the final. The colleagues from our Bornem hub won gold! A total of 500 people came to the event. People were very enthusiastic: great activities, good food and drink and worth doing again. Our family day was a fantastic ending to our 10th anniversary year. And a nice way to thank all colleagues.”

Playing and cooking together and teleworking for the parents

For the third time this summer, Colruyt Group Academy organised some fun daytime activities for children aged 6 to 12 at the Academies of Melle, Grimbergen and Jambes. They were able to choose between 10 original themes. From doing science experiments to shining as a festival star to creating your own garden party: educational fun was key. And being so active makes you hungry! “What makes us so unique is that kids have to roll up their sleeves to make their own lunch and snacks,” Team Manager Véronique Callebaut says. “And then we all sit at the table to enjoy the delicious healthy food we've prepared together. This formula of sports, games, handicrafts and cooking is popular, because some participants decided last minute to come several days. And some kids only want to come to our camp now. (laughs) Parents who teleworked while their kid was having fun, also enjoyed it: working at a unique location, watching their kids play and being out together and going home together. Even though they weren't exactly on holiday, that's how it felt!”

Katleen Van Den Eede

The bigger the lorry, the better

It's four in the morning in Bornem. Michel De Caussemaeker, delivery driver at Solucious, hits the road with a fully loaded lorry. From yoghurt and beverages, to frozen bread rolls and toilet paper. His planning today lists 14 professional customers, including a day care centre, a hospital and a prison.

“With my pallet truck, roll containers and hand trolley, I deliver the orders exactly at the agreed place, even up to a specific floor. The work is physically demanding; a roll container can weigh up to 250 kg. Refrigerated and frozen products have to go in the fridge and the deep-freezer. This customer-friendly approach sets Solucious apart from other food service companies. Customers pay using a portable payment device or by transfer. As soon as my lorry is empty, my working day is over.”

“My PDA is indispensable for my job as delivery man. This smartphone contains ‘my mission’ every day: from the day

planning and delivery order to the products that need to be delivered. Add to that the integrated bar code scanner, the GPS, telephone and WhatsApp, and you understand that this device is like my right-hand, so to speak. Three years ago we still did everything with pen and paper. It's a lot more efficient now.”

“Solucious has three types of lorries, for 10, 15 or 18 pallets. The bigger, the better if you ask me! The smaller lorries and vans are used mostly in municipal areas. Deliveries from Bornem are not electric yet, but we're getting there. I'm curious how that will affect my job.”

From Indonesia to Ronse

Success on every level

“Indonesia is made up of as many as 13,000 islands with a population of more than 270 million people. I was born on Sumatra and grew up there with two brothers and a sister. My mother was a teacher, my father worked for the National Oil company. We had a good life there. We were even able to study at university. I first studied English Literature in Jakarta, the capital, and then moved to Australia for four years. I came back with an Economy and Tourism degree and found a job at the airport and with an insurance company. I was promoted to Sales and Marketing Senior Manager for East Indonesia in no time. The biggest professional challenge of my life. It was amazing working with such a great team! I'm still in touch with those ex-colleagues. And when I go to Jakarta or Surabaya we see each other again anyway.”

Love at first sight

“I was really enjoying my life there, but a trip I made to Egypt in 2004 with my friend turned things around unexpectedly. I happened to meet a Belgian man at the bus station. And we immediately felt a click! At home we stayed in touch by mail, telephone, Skype, etc. He came to visit me in Surabaya, I visited him in Belgium. It was real love, but it was very difficult to make a decision: do I stay in Indonesia or do I leave everything behind and marry him and start a career in Belgium? Thanks to the support of my family, I chose the latter. We married, moved to

With more than 100 nationalities, Colruyt Group is a friendly melting pot of cultures. Premiuda Juliatuti Pristiwatry – Julia for her friends and colleagues at Colruyt Ronse – left faraway Indonesia to start a second life here with her new-found love. “A tough decision but the right decision!”

Ghent and now have a son and a daughter.”

Starting all over again

“To be honest, there quite a few ups and downs in the beginning. I wasn't able to find a job in the insurance sector. Asian and Australian diplomas are not valid here and not speaking the language was a barrier. It took me a while to get used to the idea of having to start all over again. But I took Dutch lessons, and after a first job in childcare, I'm now a store co-worker at Colruyt Ronse. I saw the vacancy on the wall next to the check-out, and went for it. Fortunately, Colruyt Group gave me this opportunity. The philosophy at Colruyt Group is very much like the company I worked for in Indonesia. Maybe I'll take advantage of the career opportunities in the company at a later stage.”

Different culture

“I go back to Indonesia pretty much every two years to see family and friends. It's like coming home every time. Even though it's far too hot there. No, I don't miss the Indonesian climate. (laughs) Maybe the food, but I cook a lot of Indonesian food as well. And Belgian chips and pastry are the best in the world. (laughs) The culture is quite different. I miss the respect for elderly people, for example. In Indonesia people have far more respect. But anyway, I like it here.”

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

Belgian petanque champion

Alysson Smal, Collect&Go order picker in Londerzeel, fell in love with jeu de boules when she was a child. Since that time, she's won the Belgian championship on more than one occasion: in the doubles, triples (3 against 3), with the juniors, etc. She even took part in the European club championship.

Young champion

“My passion for petanque came through my mother's husband, who used to play a lot. When I was nine, I went to school near Huy close to Liège. Every Wednesday afternoon I learned how to lob, point, shoot, roll, etc. I absolutely loved it and soon discovered that I had talent. I was still young and yet I'd already won several titles in doubles, the 'espoirs' and cadets at regional and national level. And this year, on 9 June, I won the Belgian championship in the triples category.

Another great experience!”

Flick of the wrist

“Petanque is a game that is played one-on-one with three balls each, in doubles with two teams of two and three balls each, or in triples with two teams of three and two balls each. This year I played triples with my sister and Charlotte Lambert, another player at my club. In fact she also works for Colruyt Group, at the Colruyt store in Corbais. I don't really train, I just try to play as often as I can: if I don't have to work on Saturdays, I take part in championships. And from March I'll be taking time off for the qualifications of the Belgian championship.”

Increasingly popular

“Even through it's not talked about much, petanque has a huge following: there are more than ninety clubs in Wallonia and Brussels. I'm playing for Saint-Servais in Namur now, the best club in Belgium in the women's category. People take the competitions very seriously, but I also love the atmosphere of this sport. And the great parties after every championship of course. (laughs)”

Cliché or not?

“Contrary to popular belief, jeu de boules is quite a physical sport. During a championship, we walk back and forth a lot, we're often squatting, and we also take a lot of steps to get from one court to another. Proof? My baby was born early... during a championship! (laughs) And to answer the question that is probably on everyone's lips: no, my favourite drink is not Ricard. I really hate it! (laughs) Another interesting fact is that alcohol is forbidden during big games and we have to do alcohol tests. Because jeu de boules can also be dangerous! A boule once hit me on the head. It hurt, but luckily it wasn't serious. And, although France, surprise surprise, dominates European competitions, you'll never guess who their biggest international rivals are: Thailand! Yes, apparently the sport is very popular in the military camps of Thailand.”

“I was very young and had already won several regional and national titles. And this year I won the Belgian championship in the triples category. A great experience!”

Proud of our Olympic

Crazy! Colruyt Group was even represented at the Olympics in Paris. Hockey players Lien Hillewaert and Loïc Van Doren, marketing colleagues at Yoboo, our health branch, may have come back without a medal, but we're still very proud of their achievements!

“Olympic

athlete! Not many people can

say that!”

Fourth place at the Olympics. Nice! “But we wanted more in Paris,” realises Lien Hillewaert, one of the Red Panthers' best defenders.

Close-knit team41

“Even as a little girl I was very sporty. First, I played tennis, but my parents pushed me to do a team sport. And for me it had to be an outdoors sport. That's how I started playing hockey. A good choice it turned out, because I fell in love with the game very quickly: intensive, but also technical and tactical. And the team, that's what hockey's all about, is important to win medals. You spend hours together, both on and off the pitch. Sometimes you see your team mates more than your own family. That's how you forge a close bond. And you notice that in the game. We also try to make each other better. By working on it at Yoboo, I discovered the impact of small lifestyle changes on recovery, stress, sleep and ultimately your performance as an elite athlete. I share these facts with my team mates, to help them grow too.”

Unique

moment

“The Red Panthers narrowly missed the previous Games in Tokyo. It was a key moment, because we've worked very hard since and made more progress than ever: we went from place 12 to 3 in the world rankings. And we're now competing for medals at every major tournament. Qualifying for Paris was a fantastic release: you can't compare that feeling with anything in your life.”

So close

“We felt we could have won a medal in Paris. It made the disappointment coming fourth extra bad. And the fact that we were better than China or Argentina - the two teams we lost to in the shoot-outs - feels very bitter. But at this level, small details make the difference between winning and losing. You mustn't forget the stress factor either. The team that handles the stress better will have an edge over the other team. We were really sad and disappointed after the tournament and stayed together for a few days afterwards. Because you can only share your emotions with each other, people who understand what you experienced.”

Torn

“But what a wonderful experience! The Olympic Games, where all the best athletes of the world come together, is like a kind of Disneyland for athletes. (laughs) We're never going to forget that experience. Okay, a medal would have been better. But I'm super proud to have competed at the Olympics: how many people can say that? And there's more tournaments, right. Hopefully for me too. Let's follow in the men's footsteps. They won silver in Rio and were Olympic Champions in Tokyo.”

athletes

“Teary-eyed debut”

Loïc Van Doren has been the Red Lions' reserve goalkeeper for the last eight years. This summer he was able to tick off a boyhood dream: make his debut at the Olympics! And the best is still to come…

Famous brother

“Sports run in our family. As children, we tried a lot of sports, but in the end my brother Arthur and I stuck to hockey. We had the talent for it. (laughs) Arthur more than me. He also plays in the national hockey team and has been voted best hockey player in the world several times! And I'm not going to contradict that. He trains a lot and watches all his games again to learn from them. That's how he developed an incredible insight into the game and makes him an even better player. There was never any rivalry between us. On the contrary. And I would never have been able to get better than him anyway. (laughs)”

It's all about fun

“The hockey world is a fair, honest world, that doesn't revolve around money, sponsors and power. Many clubs still run on volunteers, and fun playing the game is still the most important thing. I think it's great when a team is working towards the same goal. We want the Red Lions to be an example for young players. We're aware of this all the time: we behave like ambassadors of our sport. And we make the necessary sacrifices to perform at top level: we watch what we eat, make sure we sleep and rest enough, etc. Because when you're more energetic, it's also good for the team. That's also why I believe in Yoboo's story.”

Olympic dream

“Paris was a disappointment for the team. Although one disappointing result doesn't mean everything was bad. And with the new batch of youngsters on the sidelines we'll be competing for medals for many years to come. Despite being knocked out, these Games have been my greatest experience so far. Our first goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch is a world-class goalkeeper. In recent years I had to sit on the bench a lot. Making my Olympic debut in Paris was unique. I had tears in my eyes on the pitch. Being there with Arthur on the pitch was the crowning glory of the long road I've travelled. I rate it higher than our gold medal in Tokyo, because I contributed very little as reserve goalkeeper.”

The best is yet to come

“I've experienced many great moments with the Red Lions. But the icing on the cake has to be the World Cup in Wavre and Amsterdam in 2026. Winning the world championship in your own country has to be a fantastic feeling. And then it's on to the next Olympics. Hopefully with me in goal. In other words, the best is yet to come…”

Product Strategist Katrien Neveux, the driving force behind BioPlanet's product charter, was named ‘Fairtrade Ambassador’ at the Fairtrade Frontrunner Awards.

Go-getter

What?

Bio-Planet undertakes to ensure that as much chocolate as possible on the store shelves has a Fairtrade label and to guarantee a minimum price for cocoa growers.

“Bio-Planet doesn't only want to promote organic products, but also wants to focus on socially responsible products. This is why we included a cocoa commitment in our product charter: a minimum living wage for cocoa growers, a stop to deforestation and the exclusion of child labour.”

“A Fairtrade certification is a good first step. That label ensures the farmer receives a minimum price and provides a safety net against global market fluctuations. On top of the selling price, cocoa cooperatives receive a Fairtrade premium for community and development projects, such as building schools, training in sustainable agricultural practices, etc.”

“To achieve this ambition, our purchasers talk to suppliers. Most are willing to follow us in this. Either with a Fairtrade certification, or their own programmes that are in keeping with our cocoa commitment. The Fairtrade Frontrunner Awards are a great recognition of our efforts.”

By the end of 2024, 90 % of all chocolate at BioPlanet will have a Fairtrade label. By offering cocoa growers a living wage, we contribute to a better society together, 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.

Invited by Collibri Foundation some small-scale Burundian coffee farmers came to see how Fine Food Coffee processed their harvest.

Visit of Burundian coffee farmers

Master coffee roaster

Kris Durant: “The coffee farmers didn't know what coffee tasted like: they'd never had a cup of coffee! And I don't know if they even liked the stuff…”

Special visit to Fine Food Coffee in 2013. Invited by Collibri Foundation, seven Burundian coffee farmers discovered what we do with their harvest every day. “It was the first time they visited,” says master coffee roaster Kris Durant. “They didn't speak any French or English, just a local language. All communication had to go through an interpreter from and into French which made it extra special. The party was made up of small farmers who not only had a coffee plantation, but also grew other crops: cassava, maize, etc. They didn't even know how coffee tasted: they'd never had a cup of coffee! They knew what coffee beans were of course, but didn't know what you could do with them. It was quite an eye-opener for them. And I don't know if they even liked the stuff… (laughs)”

“African coffee – from Burundi, Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania – has a typical rich, fruity flavour. We use the Burundian coffee beans in many of our ground coffees and coffee pads: 11 of Spar and 12 of Graindor. It also says so on the packaging. It used to be fewer, but the coffee gets better every year. Better training of the coffee farmers means there are fewer discrepancies in terms of flavour and quality. And because they deliver better raw materials, we can offer higher-quality coffee

and they'll get a higher price for their coffee beans. Win-win! In fact, last year the farmers were, briefly, unable to keep up with demand, and we had to temporarily reduce the share of Burundian coffee in our blends and replace it with alternatives with the same flavour pattern.”

“I've visited quite a few plantations – especially in South and Central America – but Africa is still on my bucket list. A couple of years ago we travelled with Burundian coffee farmers to a project in Colombia which has a real coffee culture.They were able to see how much they can still grow with their own eyes. It was a particularly instructive experience. The people we travelled with at the time still talk to each other two to three times a year on Whatsapp. I've even received two invitations for weddings in Burundi. (laughs) Unfortunately, I've not made it yet…”

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 / Photo: Katleen Van Den Eede

Between

Dear Colruyt team in Maldegem,

here's a small gift to thank you for putting my shopping on a shopping cart and in the car. Because of my bad back I can't do it myself. Thank you so much for your help!

Martine

Hello,

I would like to know what Colruyt's secret is because your staff think it's very normal. I've never met friendlier and more helpful staff than at Colruyt. And I've visited stores all over Flanders. Always friendly. Thanks!

My son Aws is five and is autistic. He enjoys going to Colruyt and keeps the Colruyt advertising magazines in his room. For his birthday I want to get him something with the Colruyt logo: a hat, school bag, water bottle, etc. Do you have something for him? It would make him very happy. Kind regards!

and creamy. Congratulations to the buyer.

Hello!

I wanted to tell you how satisfied I am with your Okay Compact store in Saint-Gilles. I especially like coming here because the salespeople are great! I have to mention Silvio, he makes me laugh every time. Thanks a lot,

Other stores should use the Collect&Go of Oud-Turnhout as an example for youth camp supplies! Co-workers Ari and Joren made sure everything went smoothly, and provided a very friendly service to boot. Big thumbs up for Ari and Joren!

For a kids' party, I wanted to give each child the same number and colour of M&Ms. Because there are only two blue M&M’s in the bag, I couldn't do this. I hope this can be avoided in the future.

Life-savers at Bike Republic Beveren. They really helped me (by fixing a puncture so that I could still get to Antwerp), even though I wasn't a customer. Very friendly people and a beautiful store!

Yesterday I bought Boni mussels at Colruyt Bredene and ate them for dinner. They were delicious, tasty

Like one team

A team made up of colleagues from the Okay and BioPlanet distribution centre in Laekebeek competed at the traditional football tournament during the Multicultural Festival in Halle. “A great way to work on the unity in our team,” says order picker Abou Sy. “Despite our different backgrounds, we get on very well at work. We work hard to look after our families and trust each other to do a good job. At work we're all the same.” Abou and his colleagues made it to the final but unfortunately lost on penalties. At least they did better than the Red Devils at the Euros...

Summer Roadshow

Collect&Go wants to enjoy every minute of the summer, because it's dusting off its trailer for a Summer Roadshow again this year. "Next year, we'll be celebrating our 25th anniversary with a different concept," Stefanie of the marketing team says. “But this summer our trailer will be the familiar scene of entertainment for young and old, including a bouncy castle village, and performances of top artists such as Willy Sommers, Stan Van Samang and Belle Perez.”

Orange and banana for … Sterke Peer

“The Sterke Peer Triathlon is organised in Wuustwezel every year,” says Nick Deruyter, Store Manager of the local Okay store. “About 1,000 triathletes take part. To boost our name recognition as a convenience store, we happily donated oranges and bananas which were very much appreciated by participants at the finish.”

Proud of his first book

Berry Cuppens, store co-worker in Colruyt Vosselaar (on the left on the photograph) has just finished writing his first book. “’De Zoektocht’ is an exciting science-fiction story that takes place a good 100 years in the future. My interest in technology and science were a great source of inspiration. And of course I'm very proud of this book! I worked on it a long time, and the result is what I wanted it to be. And the colleagues who bought it also love it!”

Available at Vertelpunt Uitgevers.

Heartwarming goodbye

“After nine years at Technics and Real Estate my amazing colleague Tijs Hanssens is moving to the Colruyt Group Academy,” says Maya Stevens, Technics Communication Manager, sadly. “As a goodbye gift he gave me a great photo jigsaw in perfect Colruyt theme! It is now framed and hanging on the wall in my office. Tijs, you may be somewhat out of sight, but certainly not out of mind! Thank you for everything!”

40 years of love

Party in Congo and at our colleagues of export department Colex! Because Everyday has been part of people's lives for the past four decades. Colex' ’40 years of love’ campaign wants to thank every Congolese family that has put its trust in our house brand. We're ready for the next 40!

Great weekend in Jabbeke

“Our family weekend was a huge success,” says Steffie Devos, Store Manager at Okay Jabbeke. “The sun was out and our tasting sessions at the food trucks were enjoyed by many: butter biscuits, paella and a fresh drink on Friday, and on Saturday we also had chips. Meanwhile the kids enjoyed the bouncy castle and were over the moon with their beach ball. What a fantastic atmosphere for both colleagues and customers!”

Also attention for professional customers

Colruyt Averbode knows that associations and professional customers have a major share in the store's sales figures. This is why they are more than happy to go that extra mile to highlight our strengths for those customers. Great inspiration for other stores!

Four in a row

Probably a unique event in the history of Colruyt: two pairs of sisters working in the same store! “Due to the renovations of our store in Lochristi, my colleague Veronique Apers and I are lending a hand in SintAmandsberg,” says store co-worker Veerle Moortgat (on the right on the photograph). “What a nice experience to finally work with our sisters Dominique and Katie! The Colruyt microbe clearly runs in our families …”

Padel with the colleagues

What did the team event of our Collect&Go Marketing & Online Sales colleagues teach us? According to Mieke Vandenholen “that we always go for it, both at work and away from work. With a flawless swing and considerable enthusiasm! The same applies to the padel court.”

Festival galore

The Beach Festival in Nieuwpoort managed to land some big names in the music industry last summer: Sting, Oscar and the Wolf, Clouseau, etc. An exclusive guest house supplied by Collect&Go and a number of partners at the festival park provided the summer vibes. 450 winners of a customer campaign very much enjoyed sun, sea, music and a delicious buffet full of snacks and drinks during the three-day event.

Photo: Katleen Van Den Eede

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