Giant sales before closing time. A well-known chain goes bankrupt
Blokker declares bankruptcy after 128 years. 400 stores will be closed, 4,000 employees will lose their jobs, and the chain is organizing sales.
The well-known Dutch retail chain Blokker could not withstand the financial difficulties that had been going on for years. A court in Amsterdam announced the bankruptcy of the company, which had been a symbol of Dutch trade for 128 years. Stationary stores will remain open until the end of the year to allow consumers to take advantage of sales aimed at reducing debt.
400 stores and 4,000 jobs to be eliminated
The chain’s financial problems had been accumulating for several years, and the company suffered losses amounting to tens of millions of euros. Since 2019, the number of stores has been systematically decreasing. In 2024, Blokker’s parent company, Mirage Retail Group, tried to save the brand by securing €35 million in financing from The Gordon Brothers, an American restructuring company. Although these actions brought a temporary respite, they were not enough to save the company.
Blokker, employing approximately 4,000 employees in 400 stores, is closing its operations. After declaring bankruptcy, the court appointed two curators who will be responsible for the liquidation process. The court’s ruling stated that the company had stopped paying its liabilities and its financial situation gave no hope of satisfying its creditors.
This is another business failure for Mirage Retail Group. A year earlier, another chain of this company, BCC, specializing in electronics, went bankrupt, which resulted in the dismissal of about a thousand people. In October 2024, the company was forced to sell Intertoys to improve its financial situation, but these steps were not enough to save Blokker.
Latest purchases and great sales
Blokker stores will remain open until the end of the year. During this time, customers will be able to take advantage of promotional prices, which is part of the strategy to reduce the network’s debt. The online store has already been closed.
The situation of the Blokker chain is a clear sign of the difficulties retail companies face in the face of growing competition and changing customer shopping habits, including the transition to online commerce.
