The Louis Delhaize Group is unlikely to pursue new ventures following the closure of seven Cora stores in 2026, according to Pierre-Alexandre Billiet, an economist and CEO of Gondola magazine.
Cora was the last active retail brand within the Louis Delhaize Group, which had been unsuccessfully seeking a buyer for some time.
On Tuesday, the hypermarket chain announced the closure of its Belgian stores and support services by early 2026, threatening the employment of its 1,779 staff.
"By next year, the Louis Delhaize Group will be nearly empty," observes Billiet. He predicts that the company, owned by the Bouriez family, will be dismantled.
"The group has seen enough and incurred significant losses, although the shareholder Gallimo remains highly profitable," he notes.
"This marks the end of a family story, akin to losing a loved one...It will take them years to come to terms with it," adds Billiet. He believes they will not venture into new activities.
Gino Van Ossel, professor at the Vlerick Business School, is less certain. "They may liquidate the company or pivot to other activities," such as investing in real estate like the Mestdagh family, he speculates.
The privately-held company is not required to disclose its future plans. However, it is certain that Louis Delhaize Group will no longer be classified as a retailer after Cora’s closure, Van Ossel notes.
The Louis Delhaize Group, now renamed LDz following the sale of Delfood and its 325 outlets to Delhaize, has declined to comment on its future projects.
