Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn, often abbreviated to AH and informally to Appie , is the largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands with a market share of 37.7% in 2024. It was founded in 1887, and has been part of Ahold Delhaize since 2016.[3]

History

The chain was founded on 27 May 1887, when Albert Heijn bought a grocery store from his father Jan Heijn in Oostzaan. In the following years, Heijn opened other locations in several cities and in 1899, he opened a central warehouse in Zaandam.[4]

From 1895, Heijn started roasting his own brand of coffee in a laundry room in his Oostzaan location and in 1910, several other self-produced items were added, including confectionery, cakes and pastry. Until 1913, these products were produced in an old town house in Zaandam, but the company built a professional factory on this spot in 1913.[5]

In 1920, all enterprises were combined in the Maatschappij tot Exploitatie der Fabrieken en Handelszaken (Lit. "Society for the Exploitation of Factories and Businesses").

Format

This format is most used throughout the Netherlands and Belgium and is their regular store format. Since 2018, the company began to roll out the concept Echt Vers (Really Fresh) in which the stores would be remodelled to offer 10–15% more fresh produce.[15]

Albert Heijn also distinguishes itself by the steadily growing range of organic and ecological products, reducing the use of plastics and investing in sustainable construction and transport. The expansion of the sustainable range was brought under the umbrella brand "Puur & Eerlijk" in 2009, under the leadership of Dick Boer, with adjustments to stricter certification and change of packaging. The retail chain is also committed to reducing food waste.

AH To Go

In 1999, the chain developed a new format for a convenience store on request of the Nederlandse Spoorwegen, the railway company would become a franchisee and opened the first store on Station Den Bosch. The format got its current name in 2001, and specialises in products that customers need on their commute.[16]

Since 2019, the company is testing a new version of the format without staff and cash registers. The customer scans their debit card and cameras register the customer and the items that are picked, after the customer leaves the right amount is deducted from their account. The new concept and technology was tested in a mobile unit that has been placed at the headquarters of Ahold Delhaize and Schiphol.[17]

AH XL

Since 2002, the company operates several hypermarkets with a larger variety of products in both food and non-food. Within the store there are also several chefs preparing take-away. This kind of store usually occupies the whole floor.

Albert Heijn Online

The company started testing delivery in 1999, with the Albert Heijn Thuisservice, which was renamed Albert.nl in 2001. Via this channel customers could purchase their groceries, but also products from sister-companies Etos and Gall & Gall. The Albert brand was discontinued in 2014, and the delivery service was integrated in the Albert Heijn brand.[18]

locations	1056
area served	Netherlands Belgium
key people	Marit van Egmond (CEO)
products	Supermarkets, Convenience stores, Small hypermarkets
num employees	125,000‡R2R‡
parent	Ahold Delhaize

Albert Heijn

History

Simon de Wit

Format

Albert Heijn

AH To Go

AH XL

Albert Heijn Online

Organisation and brand value

Sustainability

See also

External links

References