Delhaize Joins European Buying Alliance

Delhaize Group has said it will join the Brussels-based European buying alliance Coopernic as of January 2015.

Coopernic currently consists of the French hypermarket chain E. Leclerc, after fellow retailers Rewe, Colruyt, Conad and Coop Schweiz left the alliance last year to form the Core buying group. Coop Italia, a system of Italian consumers' cooperatives that operates the largest supermarket chain in Italy, plans to join Coopernic in October.

The three alliance members will share their expertise in private-brand innovation and development, commercial terms with international suppliers, and synergies in nonfood procurement.

Present in seven countries on three continents, Delhaize operates 3,377 stores and employs about 152,500 associates.