Combining resources

The Dutch franchise organisations H.D.B. Groep and Serboucom have merged. This has resulted in the emergence of an organisation with more than 450 entrepreneurs and sales of around € 500 mio, according to a report in the latest issue of the Dutch trade magazine, Mixpress. The H.D.B. Groep boasts a combined retail area in excess of 200 000 m², derived from three DIY retail formats: Big Boss with 31 DIY superstores, together with 249 small-scale Hubo outlets and and 91 Doelands. Serboucom operates the Multimate retail channel with 73 DIY stores and a combined retail area of 139 000 m².