Netherlands: Impact of COVID-19 on the Dutch Food Retail Market

Overall sales of the Dutch food retail industry have increased nine percent since the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Because social distancing recommendations have prevented most people from “eating out,” consumers are increasingly buying more food from their local supermarket, including treating themselves with comfort food as a form of compensation. However, supermarkets and convenience stores located in tourist-focused areas, busy shopping streets, train stations, airports, and other places that depend on foot traffic have seen a significant decline in sales (or have closed their doors entirely). With the increased number of people at home, supermarkets have seen their online sales burgeon, as home deliveries have increased by 40 percent.

Netherlands: Impact of COVID-19 on the Dutch Food Retail Market