Sligro Food Group N.V. encompasses food retail and foodservice companies selling directly and indirectly to the entire Dutch food and beverages market. The group pursues a multi-channel strategy, covering various forms of sales and distribution (cash-and-carry and delivery service) and using several different distribution channels (retail and wholesale).

• The food retail activities comprise 150 full service-supermarkets, of which some 80 are operated by the group itself under the EM-TÉ format and some 80 are operated by independent food retailers under the Golff format.

• Sligro offers both cash-and-carry and delivery services from 44 large cash-and-carry stores and 10 distribution centres to restaurants and bars, volume users, company caterers, small and medium-sized enterprises and smaller retailers.

• Inversco-Van Hoeckel specialises in large foodservice accounts, such as institutional customers and national chains.

Sligro Fresh Partners operates the group's in-house production facilities, making specialised convenience products and fish and patisserie items.

We endeavour to keep around 60,000 lines – dry goods, perishables and food-related non-food items – in stock at all times so that our customers can be assured of prompt service. We also provide commercial and business management support, ranging from complete franchise packages to advice on store layouts and training services.

CIV Superunie B.A., which has a market share of around 35% of the Dutch supermarket sector, handles Sligro Food Group's food retail purchases. In view of its size, the group handles its own purchases of foodservice products.

Sligro Food Group companies actively seek to share expertise and utilise the substantial scope for economies of scale. Activities that are primarily client-related take place largely at individual business unit level, with behind-the-scenes management at central level. Joint purchasing and the joint use of exclusive brands, combined with direct and detailed margin management, mean our gross margins are rising. Operating expenses are kept in check through ongoing, tight cost control and a joint logistics strategy.
Group synergy is further enhanced by joint IT systems, joint management of property and group management development. Staff are encouraged to make the most of their talents and develop their full potential, with inspiration, training and personal development being the key concepts in this respect. Sligro Food Group strives to be a high-quality company achieving steady, managed growth in all its activities and for all its stakeholders.

Sales in 2007 totalled €2,066 million and net profit was €74 million. The group employed an average of over 5,000 fulltime-equivalents in 2007.