The number of flash delivery companies, companies that deliver groceries to people’s homes super fast, is increasing at an increasingly rapid pace. On Friday, the first Gorillas branch opened in Breda, bringing the total number in our province to 18. In recent months, almost as many branches have started as in all of 2021. At the same time, dissatisfaction is also increasing, two municipalities have already taken measures to halt the growth.
In Brabant, three speed cameras are active. The largest is Flink, with 12 locations in five cities. Smaller parties are Getir and Gorillas. The latter two are active in Eindhoven, Tilburg and since Friday also in Breda.
The growth of speed cameras is unstoppable. In January, no fewer than four branches were added:
Waiting for privacy settings…
‘grim atmosphere’
Especially in Breda, where Gorillas started Friday in a building on Stationsweg, there is also a lot of criticism of the deliverers. Caspar Rutten of the CDA already asked the municipality three times to take measures against the ‘dark stores’ as the warehouses are called, but without success.
According to him, the nuisance is great, especially in Keizerstraat. Getir and Flink branches are right next to each other here. Rutten speaks of a ‘grim atmosphere’ in the district. A local resident who approached a delivery person because he was cycling on the sidewalk was told that he should keep his mouth shut ‘or the dentist can work with you’.
Flash delivery driver Flink previously caused unrest in Tilburg. At their warehouse on Korte Tuinstraat it is very busy with bicycle couriers. These would hang in the street smoking and chatting. The fact that the business is open from eight in the morning to midnight doesn’t help either. Frequent loading and unloading of trucks would cause a lot of nuisance in the neighborhood in both Breda and Tilburg.
A truck brings things to Keizerstraat:
Municipalities (don’t) act
The municipality of Tilburg has previously decided not to allow new speed cameras. Also in Den Bosch no new ones are allowed for the time being. In addition, Tilburg is looking at whether the location on Korte Tuinstraat can be closed. This wish is also alive in several municipalities outside Brabant, because a retail warehouse does not always comply with the zoning plan in the city center. According to many municipalities, there should be shops there, not warehouses.
The municipality of Breda was unable to respond to our questions, but previously announced that it did not want to take any measures against the speed cameras. They also do not intend to perform in Eindhoven, the city with the most dark stores with six warehouses. Both Flink and Gorillas let Omroep Brabant know that they always have good consultations with municipalities, and that they look forward to the future with confidence.
View all ‘dark stores’ in Brabant on this map:
Waiting for privacy settings…
No Chamber of Commerce registration
It is striking that several locations of the flash delivery companies do not seem to exist officially. The Getir branches in Tilburg and Breda are not registered with the Chamber of Commerce (Kvk). A Flink branch in Eindhoven has not been officially established either.
The Chamber of Commerce announces that it is prohibited to run a company at a location that is not registered. Violation of a prohibition in the Trade Register Act is an economic offense under the Economic Offenses Act, a spokesperson said. The tax authorities must check this, the municipality of Eindhoven has announced that it will not take any action and points to the Chamber of Commerce.
ALSO READ:
New flash deliverers not welcome in Den Bosch either: nuisance is too great
A lot of nuisance from speed cameras in Tilburg street: ‘All day long’