21 Delhaize supermarkets will remain closed in Belgium on Saturday due to continued staff protests over the company's recent decision to transform stores that it currently directly manages into franchises.
Brussels will be most severely affected, with 14 of the closed supermarkets located in the Belgian capital. The seven other closed stores are based in Wallonia.
The shop closures follow the decision on Friday afternoon by several Delhaize workers to blockade the company's main distribution centre in Zellik. The blockade, which aims to prevent trucks from leaving the depot to supply the company's shops, was described as "spontaneous" by union officials.
Delhaize subsequently sent a bailiff to negotiate with the workers, with the company claiming that it "prefers mediation" rather than using force to end the blockade. Delhaize spokesperson Karima Ghozzi claimed that the blockade was not total and that some trucks were still able to enter the site.
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The vast majority of Delhaize's stores in Belgium are already run as franchises. Delhaize argues that it is compelled to transform its remaining 128 directly-managed stores into franchises due to their falling profitability and declining market share.
The next meeting between management and unions to address the standoff is scheduled for Tuesday 18 April.
