Jumbo owners finalize HEMA acquisition, brands to remain separate

The Van Eerd family’s investment vehicle has finalized its takeover of HEMA. Back in December, Mississippi Ventures had announced plans to purchase the remaining 50 percent of the retailer’s shares. The acquisition by the family, which also owns supermarket chain Jumbo, has now received all required regulatory approvals.

Mississippi Ventures acquired the remaining 50 percent of HEMA from investor Parcom, giving the Van Eerd family full ownership after almost five years of shared control. The deal had already received approval from the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) last month. At the time, approval from the Belgian competition authorities and the company’s works council was still pending.

Jumbo and HEMA will remain separate entities. HEMA CEO Saskia Egas Reparaz described the completion of the acquisition as “a fantastic start to our 100th anniversary year,” giving the chain “a strong foundation” for future growth. “We see many opportunities to elevate our standards, from updating our stores and refreshing our product range to enhancing the overall customer experience.”

Since Parcom and Mississippi Ventures joined HEMA in 2021, the retailer says it has seen growth in sales, volume, profits, and customer satisfaction, driven in part by investments in product quality, stores, and assortment.

The companies say full ownership fits their strategy of maintaining HEMA and Jumbo as two strong, independent brands that can benefit each other commercially, through initiatives like joint purchasing or shop-in-shop setups, without formally merging.

In recent company statements, HEMA highlighted its goal of evolving into a “truly sustainable business,” integrating sustainability throughout its operations rather than treating it as a series of separate initiatives. HEMA says the new shareholder is expected to help speed up this process.