On June 19, 1996, the Van Eerd family opened a supermarket in Den Bosch that was meant to shake up the market. With low prices and a streamlined service strategy, they laid the foundation there for the chain we know today.
The name “Jumbo” had already been around for seventeen years at that point. In 1979, a couple in Tilburg opened the very first store under this name, after which the Van Eerd wholesale company bought the brand and prepared it for a nationwide expansion.
The acquisitions of Super de Boer and C1000
For years, Jumbo steadily built its presence, but the real expansion began in 2009. The Van Eerd family took friends and foes by surprise by acquiring the significantly larger Super de Boer. In one fell swoop, the number of stores tripled, and the Brabant-based chain gained a foothold throughout the country.
Three years later came the definitive masterstroke with the acquisition of C1000. Hundreds of familiar red storefronts rapidly transformed into the recognizable yellow. Thanks to this billion-dollar deal, Jumbo shot up to second place in the Dutch supermarket landscape, right behind market leader Albert Heijn.
Live chefs and mega-supermarkets
Following the major waves of acquisitions, the supermarket chain surged toward nationwide coverage with over 700 stores and even expanded into Belgium. To retain its growing customer base, the focus shifted from purely “grocery shopping” to creating a complete in-store experience.
With the launch of the Foodmarkt concept, the chain transformed the traditional supermarket into a veritable fresh food hall. Live chefs prepare meals on the spot, flanked by in-store bakeries and fresh coffee roasters. The absolute crown jewel is located in Breda near the NAC stadium: a gigantic flagship store spanning no less than 6,000 square meters—the largest supermarket in the Netherlands.
