ZEEMAN

What ZEEMAN does

Zeeman (legal entity: ZEEMAN textielSupers B.V.) is a Dutch privately-held textile discounter founded in 1967 by Jan Zeeman and headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands. The company is 100% owned by the Zeeman family and operates a low-cost, high-volume retail model selling basic clothing and household textiles directly to budget-conscious consumers through nearly 1,400 physical stores across eight European countries (Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Austria, Portugal, and Spain) and nine online storefronts. Its assortment is organized around four core categories — baby and children's clothing, legwear, household textiles, and underwear and sleepwear — supplemented by women's and men's fashion and a small non-textile range, with entry prices starting from €1.49.

The business model is built on direct, long-tenured factory relationships (averaging 20–30 years, with 98% of the top 50 suppliers partnered for 5+ years), bulk purchasing leverage (Zeeman represents 30–40% of production at key suppliers), and operational efficiency supported by a mechanized sorting and storage shuttle system at its distribution center near Rotterdam, which leverages inland-waterway logistics from the Port of Rotterdam. Zeeman complements the core offering with the "Resale" secondhand initiative (partnered with Het Goed since June 2021, operating in 6 Dutch and 2 Belgian stores, and recognized with the 2023 Holland Circular Hotspot Circular Award), a B2B channel called "Zeeman Zakelijk" for corporate customers, and a sustainability program that includes Fair Wear Foundation membership (Brand Performance Check score 68% / 'Good' rating in 2024), Better Cotton sourcing (81% of total cotton in 2024), Oeko-Tex certification, and living-wage programmes covering 26% of purchase value across Turkey, South Asia, and East Asia.

Distribution is omnichannel: dense physical retail across eight countries supported by centralized distribution, weekly promotional folders (digital and print), an email newsletter (max twice weekly), and active social presence on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. Sustainability is operationally embedded — 8,654 solar panels generating 1.3 MW power the distribution center, and LED lighting covered 82% of stores (1,141 of 1,392) by end-2024. Zeeman does not pursue big sales; clearance discounts (up to 75%) occur twice yearly and unsold inventory is donated to charity via the Sarfath Foundation.

Name

ZEEMAN

Legal name

ZEEMAN textielSupers B.V.

Website

https://zeeman.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Zeeman is a Dutch family-owned textile discounter operating nearly 1,400 stores across eight European countries, selling affordable basic clothing and household textiles directly to budget-conscious consumers via physical retail, nine online stores, and a small B2B channel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Discount Textile and Apparel Retail

NAICS

Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (45811)

SIC

Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Off-Price Department Stores (Apparel-Led) (CRAEABAB)

Keywords

• Discount textile retail
• Affordable basic clothing
• Baby and children's apparel
• Household textiles retail
• Low-price apparel stores

Headquarters

HQ city

Alphen Aan Den Rijn

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Product Sales: Zeeman generates revenue through direct retail sales of clothing and textiles across physical stores and online platforms. Products include baby & children's clothes, legwear, household textiles, underwear & sleepwear, women's and men's fashion, and non-textiles. The company operates on a low-cost, high-volume retail model with prices starting as low as €1.49.
2. Resale of Secondhand Clothing: In collaboration with Het Goed, Zeeman sells secondhand clothing in 6 Dutch stores and 2 Belgian stores under the Resale brand since June 2021. This initiative gives used clothing a second life and diversifies revenue streams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ZEEMAN is a Dutch discount textile retailer that sells affordable basic clothing and household textiles directly to consumers through nearly 1,400 physical stores and 9 online stores across 8 European countries. Its assortment is built around four core product groups — baby & children's clothing, legwear, household textiles, and underwear & sleepwear — supported by adjacent women's and men's fashion plus a small range of non-textile items. The company operates a low-cost, high-volume model with prices starting at €1.49, complemented by a circular 'Resale' secondhand clothing initiative in selected Dutch and Belgian stores.

Product overview

Zeeman is a European textile discounter operating nearly 1,400 stores across eight countries (Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Austria, Portugal, and Spain) plus nine online stores. The company offers a focused portfolio organized around four core product groups: baby & children's clothing, legwear, household textiles, and underwear & sleepwear, supplemented by women's and men's fashion. Product offerings include Zeeman's private-label basics (underwear, socks, T-shirts), third-party branded items (Wilkinson, Reebok, Lotto), and the Resale secondhand initiative. Zeeman's business model centers on simple designs, large-volume purchasing, direct factory partnerships, and minimal packaging to maintain the lowest possible prices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Baby & Children's Clothing (Baby & Kind) Core assortment of bodysuits, outfits, footwear, and basic apparel for infants and children, offered at the lowest price points in the assortment. Recognized as best store chain for baby and children's clothing in Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany.
• Legwear (socks, tights, stockings) Socks, tights and stockings for women, men and children, including private-label basics and licensed brands such as Wilkinson, Reebok and Lotto, sold individually and in multi-packs at low unit prices.
• Underwear & Sleepwear Basic underwear and sleepwear for women, men and children, including multi-packs (e.g., 3-pak and 4-pak slips/boxers) at entry-level price points.
• Household Textiles (Thuis) Bed linens, bath textiles and household basics for everyday home use, sold at discount price points alongside clothing.
• Women's Fashion (Dames) Casual women's clothing including dresses, tops, shorts, swimwear and underwear, sold at low price points across physical stores and online storefronts.
• Men's Fashion (Heren) Casual men's clothing including T-shirts, shorts, polo shirts and underwear at low prices.
• Zeeman Basics private-label line ZEEMAN's private-label basics line offering essential textiles — underwear, socks, T-shirts and basic apparel — at the lowest price points (from €2.49).
• Resale (Secondhand Clothing) Circular resale initiative operated jointly with Het Goed, selling pre-owned garments in select Zeeman stores in the Netherlands and Belgium to give clothing a second life.
• Non-textiles (food and household cleaning) Supplementary non-textile assortment including food items and household cleaning products sold in stores alongside textiles.
• Zeeman Zakelijk (B2B corporate channel) Dedicated B2B sales channel offering bulk orders of basic textiles and apparel to corporate customers and organizations.
• Weekfolder (Weekly Promotional Leaflet) Weekly promotional catalogue featuring current discounted products, available digitally and in printed form to drive in-store and online traffic.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% of cotton consumption from more sustainable options (2024)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pakistan AccordcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Zeeman signed the Pakistan Accord on January 24, 2023, contributing to improvements in safety and working conditions in Pakistan. Follows the Bangladesh Accord model.
• International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment IndustrycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2021Zeeman signed the International Accord in August 2021 for a period of 26 months, initially covering Bangladesh and expanding to other countries. The accord ensures legally binding safety improvements in textile factories.
• Het GoedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021Collaboration since June 2021 for Resale initiative selling secondhand clothing in 6 Dutch stores and 2 Belgian stores. Het Goed operates sorting centers and thrift stores, giving clothing a second life. Everything collected is donated to Het Goed for sorting, resale, and recycling.
• Fair Wear FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2019Since October 2019, Zeeman has been a member of Fair Wear Foundation. Fair Wear audits factories on working conditions, reviews Zeeman's efforts annually through Brand Performance Checks, and provides guidance on living wage calculations. The partnership ensures safe working environments, living wages, and no excessive overtime in manufacturing.
• Better CottoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Partnership since 2015 to make the collection more sustainable and improve cotton cultivation processes worldwide. Better Cotton focuses on social conditions and environmental impact. In 2024, Better Cotton accounted for 81% of Zeeman's total cotton consumption.
• Oeko-TexcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011More and more Zeeman products carry the 'Confidence in Textiles' (Oeko-Tex) quality label, which guarantees that textiles are free of harmful substances.
• PrénatalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for living wage at shared factory in Southern India where Zeeman and Prénatal account for over 90% of the factory's orders. Together they close the wage gap for nearly 100%.
• Schijvens Corporate FashioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for women's labor participation project in Pakistan. In 2024, joined with Schijvens to launch project at 3 factories (2 Zeeman suppliers) where 30 women per factory receive training for sewing workshop work.
• TÜV RheinlandminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership for additional random quality testing. Items (particularly high-risk items) are taken directly from shelves and tested. In 2024, 437 samples were taken with 93% meeting safety standards.
• bAwearminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for collecting supply chain data and supplementing with secondary data for product impact calculations as part of environmental impact roadmap.
• Impact InstituteminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership for CO2 impact calculations and cost calculations related to environmental impact assessment. Also conducting base measurement of Zeeman's total environmental impact.
• MODINTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry organization for exchanging data with other retailers to reduce time spent on data collection and focus on reducing environmental impact.
• New Order of Fashion (NOoF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for training stylists on innovations and possibilities for recycling, incorporated into conscious design practices guide.
• FrankenhuisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with NOoF for training stylists on recycling innovations and sustainable design practices.
• SolidaridadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Better Mill project with textile companies and wet-processing suppliers in Bangladesh, focusing on reducing energy/water consumption and safer chemical handling.
• Open Supply HubcoreTechnology or IntegrationPlatform where 100% of Zeeman's first-tier suppliers and part of second-tier suppliers are disclosed. Any overlap with other brands and retailers is visible, enabling transparency about production locations.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership within Supply Chain Project Turkey aimed at improving children's rights in and around textile factories, based on Children's Rights and Business Principles (CRBP).
• Fair Labor Association (FLA)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal implementation partner for UNICEF project in Turkey, visiting suppliers and subcontractors for assessments and recommendations on children's rights.
• GoodweaveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO committed to eliminating child and forced labor in the industry. Zeeman participated in Goodweave program in Panipat region of northern India to gain full picture of supply chain.
• Sarfath FoundationminorOthersFixed partner for donating unsold items. Donated items end up with people who can use them, in Transylvania, Romania and in Syria.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Primark: Irish-headquartered apparel-led value retailer operating across Europe with hundreds of stores selling low-price clothing, home textiles, and basics — the closest functional competitor to Zeeman's discount apparel-and-textile model.
• Action: Dutch-headquartered variety discount retailer with thousands of stores across Europe; overlaps with Zeeman on low-price household textiles, legwear, and basics sold to value-conscious consumers.
• Pepco: European discount variety retailer offering low-price clothing, home textiles, and household goods across CEE and Western Europe, directly competing for the same value-driven shopper as Zeeman.
• Kik: German textile discounter operating a large store network focused on low-priced clothing, household textiles, and basics; comparable to Zeeman in assortment depth and value positioning.
• Takko Fashion: German-headquartered budget apparel and textile retailer with a multi-country European store footprint; directly competes with Zeeman on affordable family and basics apparel.
• NKD: German textile discounter operating several hundred European stores selling low-priced clothing, socks, underwear, and home textiles — overlapping assortment and target customer with Zeeman.

Broad incumbents

• H&M: Swedish fast-fashion incumbent with thousands of stores across Europe and globally; broader assortment and higher fashion profile but competes for the same European apparel shopper Zeeman targets.
• C&A: Dutch/German-founded apparel retailer with extensive European store coverage; competes with Zeeman across family apparel and basics at accessible price points.
• Lidl: German discount supermarket chain with expanding non-food textile ranges sold at value prices; competes with Zeeman on apparel basics, legwear, and household textiles in the same European geographies.

Emerging players

• Woolworth (Netherlands): Re-launched Dutch variety discount chain selling low-priced household textiles, clothing, and basics; emerging Dutch competitor overlapping Zeeman's assortment and budget positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/zeeman
• Facebookfacebook.com/zeemantextielsupers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zeeman-textielsupers
• Instagraminstagram.com/zeeman_nederlands
• Pinterestnl.pinterest.com/zeemantextiel
• TikToktiktok.com/@zeeman_nederland
• Xx.com/zeemantextiel

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about ZEEMAN