Heijn

Heijn, commonly spelled Albert Heijn or AH, is a Dutch supermarket chain and the largest grocery retailer in the Netherlands. It operates as part of the international retailer Ahold Delhaize and is the national flagship brand of the group in the Netherlands. The chain sells groceries, fresh produce, and household items through a variety of store formats, including standard supermarkets and smaller convenience formats, and it maintains an online shopping platform at AH.nl.

Albert Heijn was founded in 1887 by Albert Heijn in Oostzaan, near Amsterdam. The company grew through the 20th century, expanding into multiple cities and introducing chain store formats. In 2016, Ahold and Delhaize merged to form Ahold Delhaize, with Albert Heijn continuing as the Netherlands’ leading supermarket brand under the umbrella of the new group. The organization emphasizes private-label ranges and broad product selection, and has invested in omnichannel shopping, self-checkout, and sustainability initiatives.

Scope and markets: Albert Heijn operates primarily in the Netherlands. The parent company, Ahold Delhaize, operates additional supermarket brands across Europe and the United States; Belgian operations are served by other brands within the group, such as Delhaize. Albert Heijn also operates online shopping through AH.nl and has loyalty programs tied to its customer base.