We organize procurement, and particularly assortment management, close to the customer in each country, while combining purchasing activities across borders wherever possible.
We predominantly source products directly from suppliers for both our Dutch and Belgian operations. In addition, our membership of Superunie enables us to secure significant purchasing advantages on foodservice products that overlap with the retail sector. International sourcing is becoming increasingly important in our industry. While we had already achieved this to some extent through Superunie, the establishment of the international buying alliance Vasco International Trading B.V. in 2025 has created the scale required to strengthen our negotiating position, particularly for leading A-brands. Through this combined procurement strategy, we achieve an optimal balance between synergy, economies of scale, and local relevance within our assortments.
Together with our own production companies and fresh food partners, we are able to offer distinctive products to all our customers. In addition, our extensive range of high-quality and innovative Exclusive Brands gives our formats strong differentiation in the marketplace. These Exclusive Brands are typically developed in close collaboration with our suppliers and are built on long-term partnership relationships.