Delhaize Franchise Plan: 128 Stores in Belgium
In March 2023, Belgian supermarket chain Delhaize announced plans to transfer 128 company-operated stores in Belgium to independent franchise operators. The decision triggered a major labor dispute, with employees going on strike and dozens of supermarkets closing temporarily in protest.
The announcement raised concerns among workers about job security, pay and working conditions. It also led some customers to question whether the change could affect supermarket prices and the shopping experience.
The plan was not to permanently close 128 supermarkets. Instead, Delhaize wanted independent operators to take over their management.
Why Did Delhaize Want to Franchise 128 Stores?
On March 7, 2023, Delhaize announced that its remaining company-operated supermarkets in Belgium would be transferred to independent franchisees.
At the time, the company operated 128 stores directly, while another 636 supermarkets were already run by independent operators under brands including AD Delhaize, Proxy Delhaize and Shop & Go.
Management argued that the franchise model would give stores greater flexibility and help the company invest in the future. It also pointed to the performance of its existing franchise stores as a reason for expanding the model.
Delhaize described the move as necessary to support sustainable investment and strengthen the business.
However, the announcement came as a shock to many employees, who feared that changing the ownership and management structure would affect their working conditions.
Why Did Delhaize Employees Go on Strike?
The decision sparked protests by employees and trade unions across Belgium.
Workers feared that moving to independent franchise operators could weaken their employment conditions, particularly because franchisees can organize their businesses differently from company-operated stores.
Delhaize said employees would keep their jobs as the stores changed operators. Trade unions, however, warned that keeping a job did not necessarily guarantee the same pay, benefits or working conditions in the long term.
The dispute quickly escalated, with staff members organizing strikes and picket lines at supermarkets and distribution facilities.
How Many Delhaize Stores Were Closed During the Protests?
The number of closed supermarkets changed throughout the dispute.
On March 7, 2023, employees began walking out following the announcement. On March 14, around 94 of the 128 affected stores remained closed, according to reports at the time.
The protests affected supermarkets in different parts of Belgium, including Brussels and several cities in Flanders and Wallonia.
These were strike-related closures, not permanent shutdowns of all 128 stores. The distinction is important because the company’s plan was to transfer the supermarkets to independent operators rather than remove them from the market.
Could the Franchise Plan Increase Prices at Delhaize?
Some customers worried that the change could lead to higher prices or fewer employees in stores. However, those concerns did not establish that prices would automatically rise because of franchising.
Independent operators may have more flexibility in how they manage staffing, costs and daily operations. Whether customers notice a difference can depend on how each store is run.
Delhaize’s reputation for a broad selection of products and quality groceries also remained part of the debate. Some shoppers considered the chain relatively expensive but valued its product range.
The franchise plan itself did not guarantee that prices would increase or decrease. Customers would need to compare actual prices and services to determine whether their shopping experience had changed.
What Happened to the 128 Delhaize Stores?
The franchise transition continued after the initial announcement in March 2023. The dispute became one of Belgium’s major labor conflicts in the retail sector that year.
In February 2024, Delhaize announced that independent operators had been found for all 128 stores included in the plan.
The change marked a major shift in how Delhaize supermarkets were managed in Belgium. Instead of operating those stores directly, the company moved toward a model in which independent entrepreneurs run the locations under the Delhaize brand.
The transition did not mean that all 128 supermarkets were permanently closed. It changed their operating structure.
What Does This Mean for Delhaize Customers in Belgium?
For customers, the most important question is whether the change affects prices, product availability, service and staffing at their local supermarket.
The franchise model gives independent operators more responsibility for running their stores, while they continue to operate under the Delhaize brand.
Customers who want to know whether their local store has changed ownership or management can check directly with the supermarket.
The broader dispute also highlighted a key issue in Belgium’s retail sector: how supermarket chains can change their business models while addressing employees’ concerns about job security and working conditions.
Delhaize’s decision to franchise 128 company-operated supermarkets in Belgium triggered widespread protests and temporary store closures in 2023. Employees and unions raised concerns about working conditions, while some customers questioned whether the change could affect prices.
By February 2024, independent operators had been found for all 128 stores involved in the plan. The key point is that Delhaize was changing how these supermarkets were managed, rather than planning to close all of them permanently.
