German DIY chain Hornbach-Baumarkt aims to expand to up to 30 superstores in the Netherlands in the long term, chairman Albrecht Hornbach has said during a presentation at the Provada real estate fair in the Netherlands. The retailer already has nine Dutch stores, one is under development and a new location will be announced shortly. Horbach wants to increase to 15 stores by 2010 on the way to its goal of a total of 25 to 30 Dutch stores.
German DIY chain Hornbach-Baumarkt aims to expand to up to 30 superstores in the Netherlands in the long term, chairman Albrecht Hornbach has said during a presentation at the Provada real estate fair in the Netherlands. The retailer already has nine Dutch stores, one is under development and a new location will be announced shortly. Horbach wants to increase to 15 stores by 2010 on the way to its goal of a total of 25 to 30 Dutch stores.
The chain opened its first store in the Netherlands 10 years ago, but due to the large floor space required it had trouble finding suitable locations. While the need to redevelop obsolete industrial sites offers possibilities for the DIY store, Hornback said the current planning regulations hinder newcomers. The system is focused on the local area, while Hornbach has more of a regional impact.
May Meulenberg, director of Hornbach's Netherlands operations, said the situation is improving. 'Due to the fact that we are better known (in the Netherlands), it is now easier than in the beginning to find locations. Now on occasion local councils contact us.' Construction has begun on the 10th store in Breda. To keep one step ahead of the competition, the announcement of new locations is only revealed at a late stage.