Jumbo supermarkets heading to Belgium

Supermarket chain Jumbo established a subsidiary in Belgium - the next step in the Dutch chain's mission to open stores in the Netherlands' neighboring country, NU.nl reports.

Jumbo announced in November that it plans to open stores in Belgium. The first Belgian Jumbo stores will open only after this year, financial director Ton van Veen said. In March Jumbo posted a vacancy for an "experienced real estate acquisition agency" in Belgium, which must help the group select suitable shop locations.

Jumbo is following in the footsteps of Albert Heijn, which entered the Belgian market in 2011. Albert Heijn's parent company Ahold merged with Belgian chain Delhaize, which means there is a possibility that the two supermarket chains will merge into one. This will leave a gap in the Belgian market for another Dutch supermarket chain to fill, according to the newspaper. Jumbo is a frequently mentioned candidate.