Schuitema, the operator of C1000 supermarkets in the Netherlands, has posted a drop in 2009 sales due to a reduction in the number of outlets it operates.

The company said that total sales dropped 6.7% during the year, falling to EUR3.7bn (US$5bn). Compared to 2008, the company now operates 72 fewer C1000 outlets, the group revealed.

However, Schuitema emphasised that average weekly sales per store rose by 3.8% during the period.