According to the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the increase in bankruptcies in the retail sector was greater than in other sectors. In the entire Dutch economy, the number of bankruptcies increased by 33% compared to the same period a year earlier. Of all bankruptcies in the third quarter, 10% involved a company in the retail sector.
Bankruptcies retail
No Data Found
Developments in specialty stores and non-food
Despite the increase in bankruptcies, retail turnover grew by 2.2% in the third quarter compared to the same period a year earlier. At the same time, turnover in food and luxury goods stores fell by 1.4%. Supermarkets recorded a 2.6% drop in turnover, while specialty stores, such as cheese shops and butchers, achieved an increase of 7.7%.
The non-food sector saw a turnover growth of 4.3%. Shoe and leather goods stores and drugstores achieved particularly good results. In contrast, turnover in household goods stores, such as furniture stores and lighting, fell by 6.8% compared to last year.
Growing online sales
Online sales showed an increase of almost 9% compared to the same period last year. Stores that operate exclusively online achieved a turnover growth of almost 12%. Entrepreneurs who sell both physically and online saw their turnover increase by 4.7%.
Positive expectations for the future
Despite the challenging circumstances, entrepreneurs in the retail sector remain optimistic about the future. For 2025, almost 40% of entrepreneurs expect to achieve higher turnover. About 56% expect stable turnover, while only 5% expect a decline.
Source: CBS / Credit Expo
