Mere, the low-end retailer from Russia that is now active in nine countries and plans to open ten stores in Belgium before the end of the year.
Mere announced its Belgian plans on the website merebelgium.com: “We plan to open ten supermarkets in Belgium in 2021,” says the company, which has its Belgian headquarters in Ixelles under the name Lightkommerz. In recent days, the chain also confirmed expansion plans in the UK and France. In Spain, the first stores have already been opened. So it looks very much as if the price fighter has big Western European ambitions. On its website, Mere appeals to landlords and suppliers to work together. The chain is also looking for an expansion manager.
The retailer wants to be there for people who want to save time and money. Mere guarantees the lowest possible prices thanks to direct cooperation with producers, a strict cost-control policy and minimal margins. “In our store, the customer pays for the goods, not the high-profile brand,” says the retailer. The stores have a limited range of 1,500 to 2,000 essential products displayed on pallets. Prices are said to be about 20 per cent lower than usual at hard discounters.
