The Jumbo supermarket group is taking over the bankrupt La Place restaurant group set up by the V&D department store chain.

Jumbo, the second biggest supermarket group in the Netherlands with a 17% market share, will continue to run the restaurants under the La Place name.

According to news agency ANP, between five and 10 of the 60 independent outlets will close. The La Place restaurants inside V&D department stores are not included in the deal, although Jumbo is interested in taking them over once V&D’s future has been determined, ANP says.

Fresh food

The takeover ‘fits seamlessly’ into Jumbo’s ambitions because both companies specialise in ‘fresh and healthy food’, Jumbo chief executive Frits van Eerd said.

The traditional separation between supermarkets and places to eat is disappearing, he said. ‘Our customers want to chose where, when and what they eat.’

V&D’s official receivers also said talks on the takeover of the stores themselves are continuing with ‘two serious candidates plus others’. V&D was declared bankrupt at the end of last year.