10 years of Locatus

Data on a changing retail landscape

When we started out 10 years ago, we concentrated purely on the Netherlands. We began mapping Belgium and Luxembourg in 2006 and 2007 and Spain in the spring of 2009. What are our plans for the future?

It is 10 years since Locatus started operating as a specialist information provider, continuing the database activities of D&P. It proved to be a sound decision, since there is clearly a great need for our retail information in the public sector, and among retailers, property developers and manufacturers.

Locatus in Europe

Once the surveying of Belgium had been successfully established, we started gathering retail outlet information for major European cities in 2009. This also resulted in the production of digital retail maps.

We are taking this step for a number of reasons. The increasing internationalisation of the retail sector means that, despite the many differences that remain, there are now more similarities between countries. Hence there is still a lower penetration of multiples in Belgium than in the Netherlands. But the differences are diminishing.

A growing number of developers, investors and retail chains approach us with questions that cross borders. They are setting up outside the Benelux region and want to know if we can provide them with information that will enable them to make a sound investment or business location decision. There is increasing homogenisation within Europe. We find it interesting to examine whether and how the European countries are converging in the area of retail. We want to monitor this closely so we can provide you with accurate information.