User:Rademakd/sandbox

Colruyt Supermarkets is a chain of supermarkets, started at Lembeek near Halle and that wants to distinguish itself from its competitors by a no-nonsense approach and guaranteed lowest prices. Colruyt carries the name of the founder of the family business: Franz Colruyt. Colruyt is part of Colruyt Group, a Belgian multinational family business in wholesale distribution that evolved from the Colruyt supermarkets.

History

 * 1925, Franz Colruyt, baker at Lembeek (near Halle) creates his own business in colonial goods (coffee, spices etc.). He provisions the grocers in the region. Very soon his activities start to expand to the Brussels region.
 * 1950 Creation of the "nv Ets Franz Colruyt", food wholesaler.
 * 1953 Creation of the Boni brand, active in the delivery to associated independent grocers.
 * 1958 Jo Colruyt and his brothers take over the management of the company, that is already delivering food products to over 800 independent traders.
 * 1964 With the appearance of the first supermarkets, Colruyt has to experiment with new, more modern sales formulas: mini-supermarkets, small self-services, Super Boni, Cash & Carry (self-service for small traders) etc.
 * 1965 The Cash & Carry was the trigger for the first "discount" in Brussels. The lowest prices in food are directly proposed to the consumers from then on. Colruyt is the first store to use the computer at the check-out and punched cards in the shelves. 1976 From now on, Colruyt displays its identity: the "discount" stores are named Colruyt.
 * 1977 "nv Colruyt" goes public.
 * 1984 Creation of the meat processing plant Vlevico (Vlees Viande Colruyt).
 * 1994 Decease of Jo Colruyt. His son Jef succeeds him.
 * 1996 With the acquisition of all of the shares of the French distribution group Ripotot, Colruyt Group crosses the national borders for the first time.
 * 2000 Collect&Go offers all of the Colruyt food products on the Internet.
 * 2008 Colruyt opens its first store in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. In France, the first franchised Colruyt store opens its doors.
 * 2012 Opening of the first low-energy store: Colruyt at Wépion (near Namur).