The curtain falls on Match/Smatch's twenty stores and nearly 340 employees

The management of the Match and Smatch store chains did not find a buyer for 19 of the 27 stores that were not acquired by the Colruyt Group. It was announced on Tuesday that at least 337 employees – in stores and central services – will lose their jobs.

At the end of September, it was announced that Colruyt Group would acquire 57 Match and Smatch stores from operator Louis Delhaize. These stores (28 from Match and 29 from Smatch) would generate sales of approximately €300 million in 2022. They had 1,069 employees.

Following this announcement, management announced its intention to mass lay off up to 690 employees, across the remaining 27 Match and Smatch stores and in support services. This was the largest announcement of its kind in more than three years.

The solution for some

On Monday, it emerged that a solution had been found for another 150 employees. They operate in 7 stores still under the control of Carrefour and Delhaize, among others (Binche, Fleurus, Kessel-Lo, Leuze, Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe, Thulin, Zele), and in the 8th store (Beaumont). It is still under negotiation with a potential acquirer. Employees “can keep their jobs on the same pay terms,” a press release said.

There is less good news for at least 337 employees. 163 of them work in the 19 stores for which no buyers were found. These stores close their doors between mid-January and the end of March. “The 163 employees who work in these stores will be able to benefit from the social plan negotiated on December 1,” the press release stated. This applies to stores in Assenede, Cuesmes, Deerlijk, Eksaarde, Geldenaken, Haaltert, Jemapes, Kalken, Kluisbergen, Knesselaere, Maldegem, Mechelen, Moerbeke, Mouscron, Stembert, Tienen, Waasmunster, Zeveneken and Zulte.

Discussions are also ongoing about the possible acquisition of logistics activities, but there is currently “no buyer who has expressed interest in acquiring other central services activities,” she added. “The 174 employees working in these departments have been informed of the statutory notice period, closure compensation and early retirement agreements to which they are entitled. In the meantime, support measures and redeployment options have already been developed.”