Gamma targets 75 to 80 stores in Flanders with franchisees

Gamma is focusing its Belgian growth plans firmly on Flanders, the country’s Dutch-speaking region. The DIY chain aims to expand to 75 to 80 stores there within five to ten years, working alongside its franchisees. RetailDetail reported the plans on 29 September 2026, citing a press release from parent company Intergamma. The shift in strategy does not signal a withdrawal from Belgium, but a clearer geographical focus for investment and store development.

A focus on Flanders, not an exit from Belgium

The recent closure of Gamma’s two Brussels stores, along with several closures in Wallonia over recent years, had fuelled rumours of a possible withdrawal from Belgium. Intergamma’s announcement rejects that scenario: Gamma Belgium will continue to develop its store network.

The emphasis is, however, shifting further towards Flanders. According to the company, this has traditionally been the centre of its Belgian operations and offers the strongest growth opportunities. The target of 75 to 80 stores in Flanders covers a five-to-ten-year period. It is therefore a long-term goal, not an announcement of openings scheduled for the coming year.

For those involved in franchising in Belgium, that combination is particularly relevant: a chain can maintain a national presence while sharpening its geographical priorities. In this case, further development in Flanders sits alongside a potential reduction in a franchise partner’s presence in Wallonia, Belgium’s French-speaking region.

Franchise partner Bourrelier plays a key role

The partner behind the potential disposal of stores in Wallonia is the listed Bourrelier group. According to RetailDetail, the group operates 35 Gamma stores in Belgium. Bourrelier also operates 31 Gamma and Karwei stores in the Netherlands.

Intergamma describes the situation in Wallonia cautiously. The company refers to the possible disposal of stores by one of its franchisees. This could allow greater attention and investment to be directed towards Flanders. RetailDetail interprets this as a gradual withdrawal by the franchise partner from the challenging Walloon market.

That distinction matters. A potential disposal does not confirm that all the stores concerned will close on a set date. The reporting provides neither a full list of affected locations nor details of a buyer or a timetable for the process.

According to the network figures cited in the report, seven of Belgium’s 77 Gamma stores are in Wallonia. These figures underline how heavily the network already relies on Flanders. They should not, however, be read as an announced closure programme: the reporting does not spell out the future of individual Walloon stores.

Growth means more than opening new stores

Gamma describes its work with franchisees as extending beyond additional store openings. Relocations, extensions and modernisation projects also form part of the plans. The chain is therefore linking its growth target to both new locations and improvements across its existing network.

The distinction between these projects is worth noting. A relocation means moving a store and does not necessarily add another outlet. An extension or modernisation can change an existing store without increasing the total number of locations. Tracking progress towards the target therefore requires attention to both store numbers and announced projects.

Intergamma points to projects in Oostkamp, Mol, Herentals, Tongeren and Sint-Truiden as examples of this approach. The announcement does not specify the type of work planned for each location or the investment involved. There is, however, a specific announcement of the next opening: a new store in Zedelgem is due to follow later in 2026.

New competition provides the backdrop

The focus on Flanders comes as Gamma also faces additional competition. RetailDetail highlights the opening of the first Colos store in Machelen. The store covers 20,000 square metres. The new entrant eventually aims to open ten to fifteen stores in Belgium.

Like Gamma’s growth target for Flanders, Colos’s ambition is a future plan. The reporting provides no basis for predicting how the two networks will ultimately develop relative to one another. It does, however, make clear that Gamma is announcing its store plans against a backdrop of new competition.

Practical takeaway: for entrepreneurs involved in franchising, Flanders is the region to watch for Gamma’s further development. Be sure to distinguish between confirmed openings, changes to existing stores and long-term ambitions. Further details are still needed on the potential disposal of stores in Wallonia.