Albert Heijn facts for kids
Albert Heijn's logo (2006–present)
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| Industry | Retail |
|---|---|
| Founded | Oostzaan, Netherlands (27 May 1887) |
| Founder | Albert Heijn |
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Number of locations
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1056
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Area served
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Netherlands Belgium Germany |
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Key people
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Marit van Egmond (CEO) Albert Heijn Jr. (Founder of Ahold) |
| Products | Supermarkets, Convenience stores, Small hypermarkets |
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Number of employees
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100,000 |
| Parent | Ahold Delhaize |
Albert Heijn, often called AH or Appie, is the biggest supermarket chain in the Netherlands. In 2020, it served almost 35% of all grocery shoppers. It started in 1887 and is now part of a larger company called Ahold Delhaize.
Contents
The Story of Albert Heijn
How Albert Heijn Started
The first Albert Heijn store opened on May 27, 1887. A young man named Albert Heijn bought a small grocery shop from his father in a town called Oostzaan.
Over the next few years, Albert Heijn opened more stores in different cities. By 1899, he had a main warehouse in Zaandam to store all his products.
Making Their Own Products
Albert Heijn started roasting his own coffee in 1895. He used a laundry room at his Oostzaan store. Later, in 1910, the company began making other items. These included candy, cakes, and pastries.
At first, these products were made in an old house. But in 1913, Albert Heijn built a proper factory in Zaandam.
Growing the Business
In 1920, all of Albert Heijn's businesses joined together. They formed a new company. Albert Heijn then handed over control to his sons, Gerrit and Jan, and his son-in-law, Johan Hille.
The company grew because more people had steady jobs and money. Eating habits changed, and people wanted new types of food. Pre-packaged items also became popular and easier to get.
Big Changes in the 1950s
Albert Heijn became a public company in 1948. This meant people could buy shares in the company. In the 1950s, two major changes happened.
In 1952, they opened their first self-service store. This meant customers could pick their own items. Then, in 1955, they opened their very first supermarket.
Buying Other Stores
Albert Heijn became the largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands by buying other companies. Some important ones were Van Amerongen in 1950 and Simon de Wit in 1972. They also bought parts of C1000 in 2008 and 2012.
In 1973, Albert Heijn became part of a new company called Ahold NV. This helped Albert Heijn's parent company expand into other countries.
Lowering Prices
In 2003, Albert Heijn noticed fewer customers. Their share of the market dropped. To get customers back, they started lowering prices on thousands of items.
By the end of 2006, their market share was almost 30%. They had successfully made their prices more competitive.
Expanding to Other Countries
In 2007, Albert Heijn opened a store in Curaçao. This store stayed open until 2016. In 2011, they opened their first store in Belgium.
Even though Ahold and Delhaize merged, both Albert Heijn and Delhaize stores still operate in Belgium. Albert Heijn now has 60 stores there. They also tried to enter the German market with their AH To Go stores, but this ended in 2018.
Simon de Wit Stores
Simon de Wit was a large family-owned supermarket chain in the Netherlands. It was started by Simon de Wit in 1867. He opened his first grocery store in Wormerveer.
By 1888, he had a branch in Amsterdam. By 1900, he had 30 stores and a main warehouse. In 1970, a fire destroyed their warehouse. Soon after, Albert Heijn bought Simon de Wit. In 1973, all Simon de Wit stores became Albert Heijn stores.
Types of Albert Heijn Stores
Albert Heijn
This is the most common type of Albert Heijn store. You can find them all over the Netherlands and Belgium. They are their regular supermarket format.
Since 2018, these stores have been updated with a concept called Echt Vers (Really Fresh). This means they offer 10-15% more fresh fruits, vegetables, and other fresh foods. Albert Heijn also focuses on selling organic products. They try to use less plastic and build eco-friendly stores. They also work to reduce food waste.
AH To Go
In 1999, Albert Heijn created a new type of small store called AH To Go. These stores are often found at train stations. They sell products that people need when they are traveling, like snacks and drinks.
Since 2019, Albert Heijn has been testing a new AH To Go store. It has no staff or cash registers. Customers scan their debit card to enter. Cameras track what they pick up. When they leave, the right amount is taken from their bank account.
AH XL
Since 2002, Albert Heijn has opened larger stores called AH XL. These are like small hypermarkets. They sell a wider range of products, including food and non-food items. Some AH XL stores even have chefs who prepare ready-to-eat meals.
Albert Heijn Online
Albert Heijn started testing grocery delivery in 1999. This service was first called Albert Heijn Thuisservice. Later, it became Albert.nl. Customers could order groceries and products from other stores like Etos.
In 2014, the Albert brand was stopped. The delivery service then became part of the main Albert Heijn brand.
How Albert Heijn is Organized
Since 1899, Albert Heijn's main office has been in Zaandam. Their parent company, Ahold Delhaize, is also located there. Albert Heijn has six large distribution centers. These centers send products to all the stores.
They also have seven "Home Shop Centers." These are places where online orders are prepared for delivery to customers' homes.
In 2014, the Albert Heijn brand was valued at 866 million dollars. This made it one of the top brands in Europe. Newer information about their brand value is not publicly available.
Images for kids
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Former Albert Heijn logo (1965–2006)
See Also
- Ahold as one of the merging partners of Ahold Delhaize
- List of supermarket chains in the Netherlands
- List of hypermarkets in the Netherlands
- Albert Czech Republic
