Supermarket Deen is still very much missed year after closure: “I knew everyone by name”

“It was a very good shop,” says Tietia, who has just walked out of an old shop. She also regrets that it has disappeared. “I just miss it.” Another man who comes from the same store does not share her opinion. “A shop is a shop.” A little later he comes back to this: “As a Horinese I am a bit disappointed that such a beautiful company has disappeared from Hoorn.”

They are not alone. NH has surveyed several old Deen stores to find out how customers feel about the current situation a year after the takeover. A large part indicates that it still lacks the Deen supermarket. The reasons mentioned vary: for some the Dane just belongs in the street scene and for others the range of the new shops that are there has changed too much.

A lady indicates that she misunderstands more often these days. “I do groceries for the whole week, so it is annoying if something is not there. At the Dane this was less often, I think they were also allowed to order more freely there.” Tietia recognizes herself in this story: “If there is such an empty shelf again, I really think: grrrr!”, she demonstrates with a clenched fist.

Customer service

However, the most frequently mentioned argument is that customer-friendliness has become less. “I also think that a lot of staff have left,” someone shouts, who then adds that she hardly recognizes any of the staff. “I used to know them all by name,” said a lady.

Someone else comes up with an example: “I just asked an employee where there was something, who answered: I don’t know. And that was it”, says a lady in surprise, after which she explains that there is always someone with the Dane. who knew it.

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“It was a sea of ​​flowers”

It is also noticeable in many old Deen shops that there are a lot less flowers. “It was always a sea of ​​flowers when you walked in here,” someone says, pointing to the entrance. According to several visitors, that has now become much less. “They don’t even make a bouquet anymore,” someone else adds.

In addition, there are also people who look a lot in folders. “Yes, at the Vomar you sometimes saw a Dane logo in the folder, then they would have taken over a product that the Dane sold,” says someone who indicates that the disappearance of the Dane also has an impact on offers. and actions. “There is now one less folder where you can search for offers”, the person says aloud.

Many old Deen stores also refer to another supermarket chain in West Friesland. Namely the DekaMarkt, because customers think they resemble the Dane. Although the DekaMarkt claims otherwise.

“Maybe because the first two letters are the same or because they also make extra offers on Tuesday, as with the Dane back then. That Tuesday is renamed ‘Danish Day’. Only they are not so consistent in that: it is one week yes and the other week not. What is good? They have kept the old Deen shopping carts, they do not rattle in the street,” said a visitor at the DekaMarkt.

Men different opinion?

In the end, the general mood is the same with every new store formula. It doesn’t matter whether it’s an Albert Heijn, DekaMarkt or Vomar: most visitors still miss the Dane.

Although there is also a group that indicates that they are happy that they can still get their groceries in the area. And that it doesn’t matter which store is actually there. It is striking to say the least that a large part of that group consists of men.