Delhaize To Sell Pet Specialist Chain Tom&Co; Terms Not Disclosed

(RTTNews) - Delhaize Group (DEG), a Belgian international food retailer, announced Monday the sale of its retail formula Tom&Co, the pet specialist shop for pet feed and pet care. The acquisition takes effect as of the third quarter of this year.

The buyer of Tom&Co is PetSerCo, an investment group of which Lionel Desclée is the principal shareholder. He is the current Senior Vice president of Delhaize Belgium and responsible for the independent stores and retail activities.

Following the sale, Desclée will leave Delhaize. The company added that the brand Tom&Co will continue to exist, as well as its employees and the existing network of Tom&Co stores in Belgium, Luxembourg and France.

Delhaize said Desclée has the ultimate responsibility for Tom&Co within the management of Delhaize and, in the past, was a member of the operational management of Tom&Co himself.

According to the firm, the sale reflects its wish to focus more than ever on the sale of healthy and high quality food as it aims to become the favourite supermarket of the Belgians again. A pet specialist shop is therefore no longer considered a priority.

Tom&Co, which was founded in 1991, at present has 144 stores in Belgium, Luxembourg and France of which 136 franchised stores and 8 own stores.