Delhaize is once again offering its Collect pick-up service in 25 of its shops in Flanders, the supermarket chain announced on its website. It had suspended the service last month because continuity had been threatened by recurring strikes.
Delhaize staff went on strike after it was announced on 7 March that the 128 supermarkets owned by the group would be placed under independent management. Activity has since resumed in some shops, Delhaize having asked bailiffs to remove the pickets, but about 30 were still closed on Thursday. All supermarkets in Flanders have reopened.
The strikes prompted Delhaize management to suspend its Collect service, which allows customers to choose their items on the Internet before picking them up in store at an agreed time.
Home delivery, which is organised from a central warehouse and not from the shops, was still possible. This formula does not entail any additional costs for the time being.
Delhaize has now decided to partially re-launch the collection service, starting with 25 shops in Flanders. Here too, the service is offered free of charge, until 10 May.
An important conciliation meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, with the participation of the unions, management and the government-appointed mediator. Management has already said on several occasions that the franchise is the only option.
On Wednesday, the unions had travelled as far as Zaandam in the Netherlands to make their case to officials of parent company Ahold, which was holding its general meeting there.
