50
Performance by segment (continued)
Acquisition of bol.com
Ahold Annual Report 2012 41 Ahold at a glance
Our strategy
Our performance
Governance
Financials
Investors
Capital allocation
Store portfolio development
2012
2011
Stores at the beginning of the year
1,946
1,914
New and acquired stores
69
46
Closed and divested stores
(19)
(14)
Number of stores at year end
1,996
1,946
Stores remodeled expanded
relocated reconstructed
170
171
Number of stores
2012
2011
Albert Heijn: the Netherlands
818
799
Albert Heijn: Belgium
11
2
Albert Heijn to go: the Netherlands
59
55
Albert Heijn to go: Germany
3
-
Etos
538
536
Gall Gall
567
554
Total the Netherlands
1,996
1,946
Sales area of own-operated stores
(in thousands of square meters)
915
885
Increased store
portfolio by
50 new stores
In the Netherlands we remodeled, expanded, relocated or
reconstructed 170 stores as part of our continuous focus on
keeping our stores fresh and up-to-date. Total investments in the
Netherlands amounted to around 3% of sales and ranged from
opening new stores to investing in IT, distribution centers, and minor
construction work in the stores.
The total number of stores in the Netherlands increased
by 50. This number includes 15 of the 82 transferred
stores from competitor Jumbo and nine stores acquired
by Gall Gall from competitor Mitra. In Belgium,
Albert Heijn opened nine supermarkets and opened
its first three convenience stores in Germany.
Ahold also acquired bol.com in 2012, to strengthen
our online business and customer offering in
non-food. Bol.com is the number one online retailer
in the Netherlands, with more than three million
customers and 10% of the online market, and has
a fast growing presence in Belgium. It offers
non-food products in a large variety of categories
(such as books, games, toys and health beauty care)
delivered directly to peoples homes. Additionally,
Albert Heijn opened three pick-up points, and offered
bol.com pick-up points in 59 Albert Heijn stores.
Ahold acquired non-food internet retailer bol.com in May, in order
to grow our online business and offer customers more choice,
greater convenience and better value. Bol.com offers customers in
the Netherlands and Belgium a very broad range of products in
many non-food categories including books, entertainment,
electronics and toys.
The company achieved a great deal in 2012. It launched three new
categories of products: baby, kitchen and dining, and health and
beauty care. The health and beauty care store is the largest in the
Netherlands. The company opened its webstore to other retailers
through its bol.com plaza, to further expand the range of products
customers can find. It began offering free shipping on orders over
€20, to remove an important barrier to customers doing more
of their shopping online. Bol.com also doubled its business in
Belgium and opened pick-up points in 59 Albert Heijn stores in
the Netherlands.
