Dutch food retailer Laurus NV’s flagship Super de Boer supermarket brand boosted like-for-like sales by 3.3% in both the second and third quarters of this year, when compared with the same period last year.
The chain’s like-for-like sales had decreased by 1.9% in the first quarter of 2006 before showing recovery over the past few quarters, which have also seen the sale of Laurus units Edah and Konmar.
The retailer’s 41 Konmar stores were sold to Ahold and Jumbo Supermarkten for a combined total of EUR133m (US$171.12) in May, while Laurus reached an agreement in principle with a number of supermarket organisations, including BV Sperwer Holding and CoopCodis Holding BV, on the transfer of the 43 Edah franchisees for EUR26m in August.
These disposals were described as a fundamental change of strategy for Laurus as it continued forward with one format – Super de Boer.
However, the company’s shares rose yesterday (10 October) at news that Sperwer Holding had expressed interest in buying the Super de Boer chain itself.
