HEMA owner Marcel Boekhoorn has resold the retail chain's Utrecht distribution centre within a day of purchase. For the next ten years, HEMA will stay as a tenant in the 62,000-square-metre property.
Altera Vastgoed sold the distribution centre in Utrecht on Wednesday to Ramphastos Investments, Boekhoorn's investment company. The HEMA owner resold the property on the same day to Hines, a British real estate company.
Profit was not the goal of this transaction, Jan-Willem Neggers of Ramphastos stressed to Vastgoedjournaal. According to Neggers, responsible for the company's real estate investments, HEMA hoped to secure a better lease and reduce expenses through the transaction.
Read also: HEMA shops become mini-DCs for online orders
HEMA debt burden
With the sale of parts, Boekhoorn wants to ease HEMA's debt burden. Seventeen city shops were previously sold to Jumbo. A new owner is still being sought for HEMA's bakeries.
HEMA has a net debt of €750 million. The corona crisis worsened the company's position: shortly after the outbreak, CEO Tjeerd Jegen feared for HEMA's continued existence. As a result, it would only be able to partially pay shop rents. Meanwhile, shop sales are picking up and HEMA is also doing well online.
New distribution centre Nieuwegein
From Utrecht, HEMA delivers to more than 700 shops. The building acts as a logistics hub for stores in the Benelux. Since the beginning of March, HEMA has a second distribution centre in Nieuwegein. This location is mainly for delivering goods to partners, such as Jumbo and Franprix in France.
