What Albert Heijn does

Albert Heijn is the largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ahold Delhaize N.V. The company operates over 1,250 stores across the Netherlands and Flanders (Belgium), supported by 9 home shop centers for e-commerce fulfillment and 7 distribution centers. It employs 125,000+ colleagues, fills more than 7 million plates daily, and reached a record 38.2% Dutch market share in Q4 2025. The company also operates the AH to Go convenience store format and the Overblijvers app for surplus food, with private label brands including Perla coffee, Delicata chocolate, and hybrid dairy/blended protein ranges addressing the protein transition.

The technology stack is built on Microsoft Azure and Azure OpenAI, with Databricks as the data intelligence platform. Albert Heijn's AI capabilities include the Steijn conversational assistant (over 1 million customer interactions), an AI-translated app (250,000+ users), food-waste reduction analytics (3.6M kg saved in one year), AI-driven personalization on Bonuskaart transaction data, and AI agents deployed across marketing and store operations. AH Labs operates as an internal innovation unit using Lean Startup methodology and Generative AI in collaboration with Microsoft. Distribution channels include physical retail, online grocery delivery/click-and-collect, a mobile app with Instagram social shopping and upcoming TikTok support, and a retail media network alongside bol.com in the Netherlands.

Albert Heijn generates revenue primarily through physical grocery retail sales, online grocery transactions (parent Ahold Delhaize Q4 2025 online sales grew 12.9%), private label products, and a growing retail media network. Pricing is per-transaction with loyalty incentives (10-15% of revenue tied to Bonuskaart rewards); the Bonuskaart is free to consumers. Customer segments are predominantly Dutch and Belgian households, with secondary segments in employees, suppliers, and partners. Sustainability credentials include B Corp certification and a regenerative agriculture partnership with FLP Colombia, signaling integration of ESG positioning into the brand and supply chain.

Name

Albert Heijn

Legal name

Albert Heijn B.V.

Website

https://werk.ah.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1890

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Albert Heijn is the Netherlands' largest supermarket chain (38.2% market share), operating 1,250+ stores across the Netherlands and Belgium. It serves millions of consumers through physical retail, online grocery delivery, and an AI-enhanced mobile app powered by an 8M+ loyalty program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Grocery Retail / Supermarket

NAICS

Supermarkets and Other Grocery Retailers (except Convenience Retailers) (44511), Convenience Retailers (445131), Food and Beverage Retailers (445)

SIC

Retail-Grocery Stores (5411), Retail-Convenience Stores (5412)

akta.pro primary industry

Value-Oriented Traditional Supermarkets (Non-Club) (CRAHAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

General Online Grocery (Full-Basket) (CRAHAIAA)

Keywords

• Grocery retail
• Food retail
• Supermarket chain
• Private label brands
• Online grocery

Headquarters

HQ city

Zaandam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Physical Retail Sales: Albert Heijn operates 1,250+ supermarkets and convenience stores across the Netherlands and Belgium, generating revenue through in-store product sales across grocery categories including fresh produce, packaged goods, and private label products.
2. Online Grocery Sales: Albert Heijn operates a leading online food retail platform with home delivery and click-and-collect options, contributing to Ahold Delhaize's online sales growth of 12.9% in Q4 2025.
3. Private Label Products: Albert Heijn sells private label brands including Perla coffee and Delicata chocolate, contributing to the company's private label market strategy. The private label market share across European grocery reached 39.1% in 2024.
4. Retail Media Network: Albert Heijn operates a retail media network, identified as a leader in the Netherlands alongside bol.com, with digital advertising spend in the Netherlands projected to grow from $3.77 billion in 2025 to $5.48 billion by 2029.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Albert Heijn operates a supermarket chain selling groceries, household goods, and private-label AH-brand products across 1,000+ stores in the Netherlands and Belgium. Offerings extend to online grocery delivery and pickup via ah.nl and the Mijn AH app, the Bonuskaart loyalty program with personalized promotions, and a retail media platform (AH Media Services) for brand advertisers. The company also runs nine dedicated home shop centers for online order fulfillment and the Overblijvers app that helps customers reduce food waste.

Product overview

Albert Heijn is a food retail company operating as a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core offerings include the Mijn AH App for customer engagement with integrated AI capabilities (Steijn assistant, social shopping, recipe discovery), the Bonuskaart loyalty program driving 25-30% higher basket sizes, and physical store operations across 1,270+ stores. Supporting modules include AH Labs innovation unit for technology development, Nedap Mobile Access for employee security, and private label product lines including hybrid dairy and blended protein ranges addressing protein transition. The company also sells home batteries as part of energy product expansion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Perla: Albert Heijn's private label coffee brand
• Delicata
• AH Labs
• Overblijvers
• AH Academy

Products and services

• Albert Heijn physical supermarket stores Network of 1,000+ physical supermarkets across the Netherlands and Belgium selling groceries, household goods, and AH private-label products to consumer households.
• AH online grocery delivery and pickup (ah.nl) E-commerce grocery service allowing customers to order food and household items online for home delivery or store pickup, fulfilled through nine dedicated home shop centers.
• Bonuskaart loyalty program Free loyalty card and accompanying account offering personalized discounts, promotions, and digital coupons to Albert Heijn shoppers, also serving as the data backbone for AH Media Services.
• Mijn AH mobile app Mobile application providing shopping lists, digital Bonuskaart, personalized offers, in-store scanning, and online order placement for Albert Heijn customers.
• AH Hybrid Dairy product line AH private-label range of hybrid dairy products blending dairy and plant-based ingredients, sold in Albert Heijn stores.
• AH Blended Protein Range AH private-label range of blended protein products combining animal and plant proteins, marketed to shoppers seeking flexitarian or reduced-meat options.
• AH Home Batteries AH private-label range of household batteries retailed through Albert Heijn stores and online channels.
• Overblijvers app Standalone mobile application helping Albert Heijn customers reduce food waste by tracking leftovers and suggesting recipes using surplus ingredients.
• AH Media Services retail media platform Retail media platform enabling brand advertisers and CPG companies to run targeted campaigns using Albert Heijn's first-party shopper data, loyalty insights, and on-site/off-site media inventory.

Quantifiable outcome

• Albert Heijn reached a record 38.2% market share in the Netherlands in 2024
• +10 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability6 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NedapcoreTechnology or Integration · 9 June 2026Nedap expanded its partnership with Albert Heijn to deploy Nedap Mobile Access across Albert Heijn, Etos, Gall & Gall, and Ahold Delhaize offices in the Netherlands. Employees can now use smartphones via Apple Wallet and Google Wallet with NFC technology to securely access office buildings and facilities, replacing physical access badges. The expansion builds on a long-standing relationship and reflects growing adoption of mobile credentials in large-scale retail environments.
• FLP Colombia (Albert Heijn Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 February 2026FLP Colombia operates farms and an export facility in Caldas and is implementing a regenerative agriculture project in partnership with the Albert Heijn Foundation to improve avocado quality and fruit consistency for the European market. The cooperation operates within the Combi-track Sustainable Agrifood Systems framework, combining Dutch trade expertise with Colombian production to address post-harvest losses and market access challenges.
• DatabrickscoreTechnology or IntegrationAlbert Heijn uses the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform for AI-powered applications including real-time customer personalization and food waste reduction (3.6 million kilograms saved in one year). The partnership enables the company to leverage large-scale data processing for operational efficiency and customer experience improvement.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationAlbert Heijn collaborates with Microsoft on Generative AI development, with AH Labs using Microsoft's AI stack. The company also uses Microsoft 365, Azure, and Azure OpenAI Service for its technology infrastructure and AI-powered retail applications.
• PlanetDairyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanetDairy partnered with Albert Heijn to launch three hybrid milk products, representing an industry push to scale hybrid dairy. PlanetDairy acquired the equipment and technology of Swedish plant-based cheese startup Stockeld Dreamery Dreamery and partnered with Albert Heijn for commercial distribution of hybrid dairy products (30-40% plant-based).
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationAlbert Heijn is deploying AI across marketing, store operations, and product development using Microsoft's AI solutions. The company is highlighted as a case study in Microsoft's retail AI adoption initiatives, leveraging Azure and Microsoft 365 Copilot for productivity gains and innovation.
• Home Battery SuppliersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlbert Heijn joined other retailers in selling home batteries, offering a 4.8 kWh model priced at €1,449 (down from €1,749) as the Netherlands' net metering scheme (salderingsregeling) for solar panel owners approaches its end. The home battery market is experiencing rapid growth in the Netherlands.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• Jumbo: Jumbo is the second-largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands with roughly 700+ stores, directly competing with Albert Heijn on price, assortment, loyalty (Jumbo Bonus), and online grocery. It is the most directly comparable full-line supermarket peer in AH's home market.
• Lidl Nederland: Lidl is a leading hard-discount grocer in the Netherlands with ~440 stores, competing head-to-head with AH on price-sensitive grocery trips. Direct competitor for value-conscious Dutch households.
• Aldi Nederland: Aldi operates ~490 discount supermarkets in the Netherlands, directly competing with AH on price and convenience. Comparable grocery retail format with overlapping customer base.
• Picnic: Picnic is a Netherlands-based online-only grocery delivery company with rapid growth, competing directly with Albert Heijn's online grocery platform on convenience, pricing, and digital customer experience. Same home market, overlapping target customers.
• Dirk van den Broek: Dirk van den Broek operates ~130 supermarkets across the Netherlands, competing with AH in the mid-market supermarket segment. Comparable full-line supermarket peer with regional concentration.
• Plus Supermarkten: Plus operates ~500 supermarkets in the Netherlands, comparable to AH in mid-market supermarket positioning. Competes for similar Dutch household customers and operates its own loyalty program.

Emerging players

• Crisp: Crisp is a Dutch online-only specialty grocer focusing on fresh, premium, and direct-from-producer items. It competes with AH's online assortment on quality, niche sourcing, and digital experience for higher-income shoppers.

Regional players

• Delhaize: Delhaize is the sister brand of Albert Heijn within Ahold Delhaize, operating in Belgium and competing with AH Belgium in Flanders. Comparable supermarket model in adjacent geography.
• Colruyt Group: Colruyt is a leading Belgian grocery and retail group with deep entrenchment in the Belgian market. Comparable full-line grocery retailer against which AH Belgium is competing as it expands cross-border.

Broad incumbents

• Carrefour France: Carrefour is one of Europe's largest grocery retail groups, broadly comparable to Ahold Delhaize / Albert Heijn in scale, omnichannel strategy, private label, and loyalty programs. Useful benchmark for European grocery operating model and digital transformation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/albertheijn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@albertheijn
• Facebookfacebook.com/albertheijn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/albert-heijn
• Instagraminstagram.com/albertheijn

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Albert Heijn