The week in business: 28 August
Pain Quotidien opens a veggie eatery in Ghent, De Persgroep sells off Danish titles and an overview of the rest of the week's business news
Air freight – DHL
Brewing – Unibra
The local financial holding company is investing €10 million in Martens brewery, based in Bocholt, Limburg, and producer of the Sezoens beer and many others.
Catering – Pain Quotidien
The Brussels-based bakery and eatery chain is opening a combo vegetarian restaurant and wine bar in downtown Ghent. Le Botaniste (pictured), serving “organic, botanical slow fast-food”, opens on 4 September. If successful, the company hopes to reproduce the concept in some of the 17 countries where it operates.
Energy – Electrabel
The local affiliate of the French Engie group and the country’s largest electricity supplier plans to float part of its capital on the Brussels stock market next year, following a decision by its parent company to spin-off some of its Belgian assets.
Insurance – Ageas
The Brussels insurance group is believed to be in negotiations to sell its Hong-Kong-based life insurance activities for €900 million to either the locally based Fosun or FWD group.
Media – De Persgroep
The Flemish media group, publisher of De Morgen and Het Laatste Nieuws, has sold its interest in the Danish regional newspapers it acquired earlier this year as part of a broader deal to acquire Denmark’s Berlingske Media and the Netherlands’ Wegener group. The buyer for the regional papers is Danish group Jysk Fynske Medier.
Supermarkets – Picard
The French frozen food retailer is closing the four outlets in Antwerp and Bruges it opened in 2013. The chain, which also operates in Wallonia and Brussels, will keep its outlet in Knokke.
