In January, the curtain seemed to have finally fallen for the supermarket in Exloo. The SPAR closed its doors, residents saw a facility disappear from the village and concerns about the quality of life grew. But less than five months later, music is heard again in the village street. Villagers curiously walk in and behind the counter are two familiar faces: Marlous Reinders (43) and Thale Hulshof (40).
The owners of the Landwinkel in Exloo have taken the step to breathe new life into the vacant supermarket. Not as a large chain, but as a village shop with a mix of regional products and daily groceries. From farm milk to toilet paper and from fresh cheese to cleaning products.
“It has been hard work, blood, sweat and tears,” says Reinders proudly. But it worked.”
For Exloo, the reopening means more than just a place to do groceries. A supermarket in the village is of great value, especially for the elderly and residents without a car.
Jacob Rijnberg of the village council viewed the closure with dismay earlier this year. Now relief prevails. “This is very nice for the village,” he says. “We as a village have to keep the shop going.”
According to him, a local supermarket is about more than just trade. “It’s also social. People meet here and sometimes come for a nice chat.”
For Hulshof and Reinders, the new start feels like a leap into the deep. They ran the country store in Exloo together for years, but a complete supermarket brings new challenges.
“If you look at how many local supermarkets have disappeared in recent years, you know how difficult it is,” says Hulshof. “Small stores often no longer have the purchasing advantage of large chains. But it is precisely because of this combination of supermarket and regional products that we have a bright future.”
According to them, the store should mainly focus on experience and personal contact. While an employee cuts a piece of cheese, Reinders enthusiastically talks about the concept. “Here, the farmer’s milk is just next to the A-brands. People can choose for themselves. And fresh cheese that is cut in front of you, that makes it personal.”
The reactions from the village give confidence. Even before the doors officially opened, residents were already curiously standing in front of the entrance.
“People kept asking: are you open yet?” Hulshof laughs. “The elderly in particular like the fact that they can go shopping in their own village again.”
