Colruyt Professionals opens first store in Wallonia
Colruyt Group confirms its strategy to significantly expand in the professional market
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Following the success of the Colruyt Professionals store format for professional customers in the Brussels region, Colruyt Group is now opening branch-stores for professional customers in Wallonia. The third Colruyt Professionals will be opening its doors on 25 September in Wandre, a sub-municipality of Liège, and later this year, a fourth branch-store will be opening in the Charleroi region. With a total surface area of 1,500 m² and excellent infrastructure and accessibility, the site in Wandre will offer professional customers a shopping experience that is fully tailored to their needs. These openings positively support Colruyt Group’s expansion plans in the B2B market.
Former storage space transformed into store for professionals
In Newpharma’s old warehouse in Wandre, professional customers can do all their shopping from 25 September at a new Colruyt Professionals, Colruyt Group’s store format for professional customers. The warehouse in the Rue du Charbonnage will be remodelled and adapted to the specific needs of professional customers. These include wider aisles, taller shelves, handy flat carts for volume purchases, a loading platform for large quantity purchases on pallets and a refrigerated area for fresh products. The Colruyt Professionals in Wandre is aimed exclusively at professional customers with a Professional Plus card in the Liège region, such as night shops, grocers and resellers. The store is open from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is easily accessible. The spacious car park out front can accommodate 30 vehicles or small delivery vans.
Product range and services tailored to needs of professional customers
The product range comprises 3,000 references and is tailored to the specific needs of professional customers. “We determine the range based on the top selling products for professionals in nearby Colruyt stores and continuously update it in response to customer demand. A number of specific products, such as vaping and tobacco products that are stored in a separate closed area, are only intended for registered resellers of tobacco products with a track and trace code,” says Jean Christophe Burlet, Regional Sales Director at Colruyt.
Professional customers, who usually buy products from Colruyt Lowest Prices stores, can expect services at Colruyt Professionals that are better attuned to their needs. “The store assistants, for instance, whose focus is on providing excellent service and efficiency, are always on hand to assist and often have personal contact with customers in relation to their orders. This makes customers feel unique and welcome,” adds Benjamin Chantraine, the Store Manager of Colruyt Professionals.
Large volumes are available at Colruyt Professionals. A Professional Plus card offers customers a fast and efficient shopping experience, allowing them to take their purchases with them directly and pay at the checkout point. Customers receive a clear invoice immediately on payment and also enjoy special retailer discounts. The store will also have a number of special promos to mark the opening in Wandre.
Colruyt Group, a stronger partner for the B2B market
Over the years, Colruyt Group has gained extensive expertise in different B2B segments through its B2B brands: hospitality sector, retailers, companies with a food service for co-workers and the public and healthcare sectors. Thanks to the complementarity of his brands, Colruyt Group’s joint offer makes it a strong partner for a wide range of professional customers. With the opening of Colruyt Professionals in Wandre, and in the Charleroi region later this year, Colruyt Group is further expanding its range of services for retailers in Belgium. The long-term goal is to have around ten Colruyt Professionals stores across a wide geographic area in Belgium.
