The Netherlands’ biggest supermarket, a 6,000 square metre Jumbo, opens in Breda on Wednesday, Nos television reports.

The store has been built next to the NAC football stadium and will have a workforce of 300. The development led to a storm of protest and long legal campaign by a nearby shopping centre and other shopkeepers who feared the impact on their businesses.

Groningen University retail marketing professor Laurens Sloot told the broadcaster their fears are not unfounded because such a large supermarket will need to generate sales of at least €1m a week.

‘That turnover will have to be generated by people in a much wider area,’ he said. ‘However, it remains to be seen if people remain willing to drive to such a large shop.’

While furniture super stores are common in retail parks, the Netherlands has a policy of discouraging out-of-town supermarkets to protect town centres and local shops.

Following a string of take-overs, family-owned Jumbo is the Netherlands’ second biggest supermarket group behind Albert Heijn.