History

Collibri Foundation continues as Colruyt Group Foundation. In addition to supporting young people, the focus now also includes sustainable agriculture and health.

The Eco-score (now Green-score) makes the environmental impact of products visible at a glance and supports customers in making more conscious choices. In the same year, Colruyt Group broadens its offering in preventive health with the acquisition of online pharmacy Newpharma and fitness chain Jims.

Colruyt Group expands its B2B activities under the name Solucious, a foodservice company for professional customers such as hospitality businesses, healthcare institutions, schools and companies.

The growth and diversification of activities create the need for a group level. With the launch of Colruyt Group in 2007, a group of different formats is formed, strengthening one another.

As license holder of the Spar retail format in Belgium, Colruyt once again works closely with independent retailers. Through Spar Retail (now Retail Partners Colruyt Group), the group supports them with purchasing, logistics and marketing. 

When supplying smaller stores becomes too expensive, the focus shifts from wholesale to retail. Jo Colruyt opens the first proprietary supermarket, offering well-known brands 10% cheaper through maximum simplicity and minimal store fittings. Thus, the discount model is born, laying the foundation for the later lowest-price strategy.

With Boni stamps, Franz Colruyt introduces a successful loyalty programme. The name ‘Boni’ refers to the voucher customers receive when they have collected enough stamps. The most loyal customers of the Colruyt wholesale business receive a Boni advertising sign as a gift. The first Boni stores become a reality.

Founder Franz Colruyt, son of baker Joseph Colruyt, starts delivering bread to shops and large consumers in the Brussels region. Soon he expands this to other grocery products. This lays the foundations of a wholesale business and of what would later become Colruyt Group.