Albert Heijn

© Albert Heijn
Retail & E-Commerce

Albert Heijn Reports Strong 2024 Sales Growth, Led by Plant-Based and Sustainable Products

In 2024, customers of Albert Heijn showed a clear preference for sustainable and healthy products. According to the annual report, the retailer achieved strong growth for the sixth consecutive year, resulting in an increased market share in both the Netherlands and Flanders. In the Netherlands, the market share rose from 36.8% in 2023 to 37.7% in 2024, according to figures from NielsenIQ. This growth was driven by an increase in customer numbers and greater loyalty among existing customers. Significant revenue growth for Albert Heijn’s plant-based private label Albert Heijn’s revenue growth was partly due to an increase in the sale of healthy and sustainable products. The share of products with a Nutri-Score of A or B increased by 0.8% to 48.8%, despite Albert Heijn tightening …

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SHICKEN launches at Albert Heijn

© SHICKEN
Products & Launches

SHICKEN Launches Plant-Based Indian Meals at Leading Dutch Retailer Albert Heijn

SHICKEN, a UK producer of authentic Indian plant-based foods, is launching a range of prepared meals at the Netherlands’ largest grocery retailer, Albert Heijn. Three SHICKEN products — Tikka Masala, Butter Curry, and Korma Curry — will be available in the frozen section at Albert Heijn stores across the country. The meals contain the brand’s new allergen-free plant-based roast chicken pieces, and are prepared by chefs using recipes handed down for three generations. The launch aligns with Albert Heijn’s “Better for Nature & Climate” initiative, which aims to increase the availability of sustainable products to improve the retailer’s carbon footprint. Albert Heijn has reportedly expanded its plant-based range by over 30% in recent years, and claims that a quarter of its customers regularly buy plant-based …

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Albert Heijn

© Albert Heijn
Market & Trends

Albert Heijn Named Most Vegan-Friendly Supermarket in Belgium

Albert Heijn has been recognized as the supermarket chain with the most extensive vegan offerings in Flanders and Brussels, according to a recent study conducted by BE Vegan and ProVeg Belgium. The analysis evaluated the availability of plant-based products in six major supermarket chains: Albert Heijn, Delhaize, Carrefour, Colruyt, Lidl, and Aldi.  Albert Heijn leads the rankings, with Delhaize in second place and Colruyt in third. Notably, Colruyt has moved up to third place, overtaking Carrefour for the first time. “It is mainly the expansion of plant-based ready meals that places Colruyt in third position. There are more options for easy plant-based meals. Colruyt is also catching up in the area of ​​meat and fish substitutes: the offer has increased by 30% since 2022, and …

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Albert Heijn launches AH Terra, an own-label plant-based line with 200 products

© Albert Heijn
Sustainability / Environment

Albert Heijn Reveals 44.1% of Proteins Sold in 2023 Were Plant-Based

In a new sustainability report, Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn has revealed that 44.1% of the proteins it sold last year were plant-based. This figure is up from 42.6% in 2022. The increase is partially due to the launch of Albert Heijn’s own-brand plant-based range, AH Terra, which is claimed to be the largest offered by any Dutch supermarket. It features over 200 products, including meat and dairy alternatives, snacks, and appetisers. The retailer is now aiming for 50% of the proteins it sells to be plant-based by 2025, and 60% by 2030 — a goal which is claimed to be more ambitious than those set by the Paris Agreement and the Dutch government. To help achieve this, Albert Heijn will expand AH Terra with …

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Albert Heijn plant-based Christmas magazine

© Albert Heijn
Marketing & Media

Dutch Retailer Albert Heijn Promotes a Plant-Based Christmas With New Magazine

Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn is encouraging customers to try a plant-based Christmas with a special version of its magazine, Allerhande. The 24-page insert is included in the regular Christmas issue of Allerhande, providing a wide range of plant-based recipes for the festive season. It includes multiple dishes for every course, with options such as a beet tart, a vegan roast dinner, and chocolate mousse. Some of the recipes have been contributed by well-known figures such as Instagram influencer Judith van Willigen, actor and director Sanne Vogel, and illustrator Enzo Pérès-Labourdette. The magazine also provides suggestions for how Albert Heijn’s selection of meat and dairy alternatives could be used to make Christmas dishes. The supermarket chain launched its new own-brand plant-based line, AH Terra, in …

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LoveRaw launches at Albert Heijn and Shell in the Netherlands

© LoveRaw
Sweets & Snacks

LoveRaw Launches at Hundreds of Albert Heijn and Shell Stores Across the Netherlands

Fast-growing UK-based vegan chocolate brand LoveRaw has gained new listings at two Dutch retailers — Shell and the Netherlands’ largest supermarket chain, Albert Heijn. LoveRaw’s M:lk Choc Wafer Multipack will now be available at 250 Albert Heijn stores, while the brand’s Cre&m Wafer Bar will be available at 150 Shell locations in M:lk and White varieties. This is LoveRaw’s first nationwide listing outside the UK, though the brand was already available in the Netherlands at Holland & Barrett and Flink. Within the UK, LoveRaw is available at major national retailers such as Tesco, Co-op, Waitrose, and Ocado. The brand recently announced that it would be launching at SPAR stores internationally after joining the retailer’s Challenger Brand program, and has also just secured its first ever …

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Albert Heijn launches AH Terra, an own-label plant-based line with 200 products

© Albert Heijn
Products & Launches

Albert Heijn Launches AH Terra: The Largest Selection of Plant-Based Options in the Netherlands

Albert Heijn (AH), the leading supermarket chain in the Netherlands, has launched AH Terra, an own-brand plant-based range comprising 200 products, including 58 NPDs — the largest and most diverse selection of plant-based options available, claims AH. The new AH Terra line encompasses various plant-based categories: milk, cheese, margarine, alt meat, seafood, vegetable spreads, snacks, and appetizers. The first AH Terra products, including margarine, milk, cheese slices, and vegetable spreads, are already available nationwide. Marit van Egmond, CEO of Albert Heijn, comments: “By leading the protein transition and expanding our range with plant-based proteins, we offer our customers the opportunity to make more conscious and sustainable choices. The introduction of own-brand line AH Terra makes plant-based food and drink even easier.” The protein transition The new launch aims …

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Netherlands THIS Bacon Packshot

Image courtesy of THIS
Meat- and Fish Alternatives

THIS Secures First International Listings with the Netherlands’ Largest Supermarket Chain

UK alt meat brand THIS announces its first international launch through an exclusive partnership with Albert Heijn, the Netherlands’ largest supermarket chain. Four of the brand’s best-selling plant-based meats, THIS Isn’t Beef Burgers, THIS Isn’t Chicken Pieces, THIS Isn’t Pork Sausages, and THIS Isn’t Streaky Bacon, will be available across 430 Albert Heijn stores from the 11th of September. The debut of THIS products in the Netherlands marks a significant milestone for the brand as it continues to succeed in the plant-based food industry with its realistic alternatives. At the beginning of the year, the food tech company secured £15 million to increase its R&D capabilities, consolidate supply chains, and expand overseas. Its recent launches in the UK include THIS Isn’t Beef Burgers and three on-the-go products featuring the brand’s famous bacon …

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CaviArt ketchup caviar

Ketchup caviar ©CaviArt

Market & Trends

Vegan Caviar Market Set for Rapid Growth: Meet the Biggest Players

The global vegan caviar market is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 7.9% over the next decade, reaching a valuation of over $632 million by 2032. The new data comes from a Future Market Insights report, with demand for vegan caviar driven by increasing environmental concerns for the oceans.  Conventional caviar is unfertilized fish eggs, also known as fish roe, traditionally from endangered wild sturgeon. The fish is caught alive before her ovarian sacks are extracted. Vegan caviar companies are developing cruelty-free and healthy alternatives around the world, with the new report predicting Europe to dominate the global market with a market value share of 32% by 2022 end, followed by APAC.  Cavi-Art Luxury seafood brand Cavi-Art is the producer of the best-selling vegan …

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©Albert Heijn
Retail & E-Commerce

Leading Dutch Supermarket Albert Heijn to Go Majority Plant-Based by 2030

Albert Heijn, the Netherlands’ largest supermarket chain, is now focusing on plant-based as standard as it aims to ensure 60% of consumed proteins are plant-based by 2030. Supporting the movement towards a more plant-based diet, Albert Heijn is doubling the number of alt meat products with a price equal to or cheaper than conventional counterparts. As it moves to make plant-based eating more accessible, Albert Heijn is significantly expanding its plant-based range with an expansion of over 150 new products added to the more than 1000 products currently in the range. The expansive product lineup includes an exclusive bean burger made with locally grown Dutch beans, new vegan salmon burgers, mushroom shoarma, and caviar alternative made from seaweed.  Albert Heijn has been steadily growing its …

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HEKS'NKAAS spread

©HEKS'NKAAS
Food & Beverage

Netherlands’ Largest Supermarket Chain Albert Heijn to See “Major Expansion of the Vegan Cheese Shelf”

Further to the news as we reported last October when Albert Heijn added 70 own-brand products to its vegan range, the retailer now announces a major expansion of the vegan cheese shelf. Three big companies launch eight new products; an expansion of more than 50%. ProVeg states to vegconomist that this represents a breakthrough for vegan cheese in the Netherlands. “With the expansion of the vegan cheese shelf at Albert Heijn, the total assortment there will grow by more than half in one fell swoop. Other supermarkets will follow the example of the market leader.” HEKS’NKAAS Vegan is available from this week at over 800 stores, and both Westland Kaas and the Bel Group are introducing vegan products. It is the first time that well-known …

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Albert Heijn

© Albert Heijn
General

Amsterdam: New Vegan To-Go Products at Supermarket Chain Albert Heijn

Over the next four weeks, the Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn will test a new shelf exclusively for vegan to-go products at its flagship Ahold Delhaize store on Gelderlandplein in Amsterdam. It will offer a wide range of plant-based products such as vegan wraps, soups, salads and other to-go items. The retailer hopes that the introduction of this vegan product counter will generate a lot of customer feedback. There are plans to introduce the concept in all stores if it is well-received by customers. Additionally, the aim is to simplify shopping in this area and increase the range of plant-based products available.