PLUS (Dutch supermarket)

De Sperwer U.A., whose members trade as PLUS (Dutch pronunciation: [plʏs]) under licence from PLUS Holding B.V., is a Dutch co-operative supermarket chain headquartered in Utrecht. Its 227 members operate, as ‘independent entrepreneurs,’ 260 stores across the Netherlands. In 2017 the members had total revenues of €2.4 billion and an overall 6.4% share of the Dutch grocery market.[1]

De Sperwer U.A.
PLUS
Formerly
Plusmarkt
Coöperatie uitsluiting van aansprakelijkheid (Co-operative society exempt from liability)
IndustryRetailing
Founded1988 (1988)
Headquarters
Utrecht
,
Netherlands
Number of locations
260 shops (2020)
Area served
Netherlands
Revenue€2.4 billion (2017)
Members227 shop owners (2020)
Websitewww.plus.nl

History

The PLUS formula was created in 1988 as Plusmarkt, replacing De Sperwer’s previous 4 = 6 supermarket chain. In 2001, Plusmarkt was rebranded as PLUS. Online shopping, with the option of home delivery or in-store collection, was introduced at some branches in 2015.

Organization

Stores operated under the PLUS brand are owned and operated by 227 ‘independent entrepreneurs’ who are all members of the De Sperwer co-operative.[1] PLUS Holding B.V. licenses the PLUS formula to them and runs large-scale marketing campaigns on their behalf. The chain's market power is increased through membership of the Superunie purchasers’ co-operative.[1]

The PLUS organization has its headquarters in Utrecht. It also operates three national and three regional distribution centres.[1]

Acquisitions

In 2006, as part of a consortium takeover with Sligro, De Sperwer purchased eighty branches of Edah from Laurus and converted them all to PLUS. De Sperwer also unsuccessfully attempted to take over Super de Boer and Emté in 2009 and 2018 respectively.[2]

Awards

PLUS was awarded Best Organic Store Chain by Milieudefensie and Solidaridad for the fifth time in 2010.

In a 2013 survey by MarketResponse, PLUS was named ‘most customer-friendly company in the Netherlands.’[3] It was also ‘most customer-friendly supermarket’ in the same survey in 2018[4] and 2019.[5]

PLUS has scored highest among Dutch supermarkets in annual surveys by GfK several times: in the meat category each year from 2017–19;[6][7] in the bread category in 2019;[8] in the corporate social responsibility category each year from 2015–19;[9] and in the wine category each year from 2013–18.[10][11]

See also

References
  1. "PLUS Retail". PLUS (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  2. de Waard, Peter (9 March 2018). "Jumbo krijgt Emté, plus grijpt opnieuw mis" [Jumbo gets Emté, plus misses again]. De Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  3. Eilander, Elisabeth (24 September 2013). "PLUS klantvriendelijkste bedrijf van Nederland" [PLUS customer-friendliest business in the Netherlands]. Adformatie (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  4. "'Coolblue en Plus zijn het klantvriendelijkst'" [‘Coolblue and Plus are the customer-friendliest’]. RetailNews (in Dutch). 20 April 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  5. Essenburg, Diane (29 May 2019). "Plus voor tweede keer 'klantvriendelijkst'" [Plus ‘customer-friendliest’ for second year]. Distrifood (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  6. "Plus heeft opnieuw de beste vleeswarenafdeling" [Plus has the best meat products department again]. Distrifood (Sponsored content) (in Dutch). 17 September 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  7. Essenburg, Diane (16 September 2019). "Plus voor derde keer beste in vleeswaren" [Plus best in meat products for third time]. Distrifood (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  8. Meijsen, Joep (18 September 2019). "GfK Versrapport: Plus op 1 in brood" [GfK fresh report: Plus no. 1 in bread]. Distrifood (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  9. Meijsen, Joep (19 March 2019). "Plus wint mvo-rapport voor vijfde keer op rij" [Plus wins CSR report for fifth time in a row]. Distrifood (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  10. Maarse, Henri (2 May 2017). "Plus opnieuw beste wijnsupermarkt" [Plus again best wine supermarket]. Distrifood (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  11. "Klanten roepen PLUS uit tot Beste Wijnsupermarkt" [Customers call out PLUS as Best Wine Supermarket] (Press release) (in Dutch). 8 May 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
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