Economy
Supermarkets disappearing from small towns: 'Not just for forgotten groceries'
The number of supermarkets in the Netherlands is declining, particularly in smaller municipalities, with a 36% drop in places with up to 2,500 residents since 2012. Experts attribute this trend to consumers shifting to larger nearby stores for better prices and variety, as well as the 2024 ban on tobacco sales which removed a key traffic driver. Additionally, cross-border shopping in Germany and Belgium for cheaper fuel and tobacco further reduces local demand. While supermarket numbers increased in cities over 50,000 inhabitants due to new formats and diverse entrepreneurs, growth has stagnated recently due to rising online ordering, though only 6-7% of groceries are currently bought online.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's