Brico is a Belgian hardware store chain. The chain focuses mainly on DIY items but also sells garden-related articles. The chain has 140 locations (as of February 2016) spread over Belgium, about 95 of which are franchised.[1]

History

The first store opened in 1973 in Schoten. The name Brico comes from the French bricoler, which means to do DIY. During the 1980s, Brico produced two brands of its own, namely Stop and Bricobi. Currently, these brands are known as Central Park and Sencys.[2] Until 2002, Brico was part of the GIB Group, which was sold to the Dutch Vendex (currently Maxeda). Maxeda also owns the Hardware store chains Praxis and Formido.

Former locations of Leroy Merlin in Belgium have become part of Brico NV and have been reformed and renamed Plan-It. These stores focus mainly on larger DIY and decoration projects.

In 2006, the first Brico City shops were opened. These are smaller stores in the city centers (Antwerp, Brussels, Liege, Ghent ) that focus on the most basic and easy-to-store items.[3]

Sponsoring

Throughout the 1990s, the chain played a significant role as a co-sponsor of the Mapei cycling team through the brand Bricobi. This collaboration not only showcased the chain's commitment to sports and teamwork but also solidified its presence within the competitive world of cycling.

Online store

In 2006, Brico responded to the changing landscape of retail by introducing its own webshop. This move allowed customers to access Brico's products and services through an online platform, conveniently integrated into the existing Brico website.

References

  1. ↑ Brico Archived February 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine on Brico.be
  2. ↑ (in Dutch) Brico roept twee producten van merk Sencys terug, De Morgen, October 13, 2010
  3. ↑ "Brico Franchise". Archived from the original on 2 April 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
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