Colruyt N : OKay opens brand-new sustainable local supermarket in Heers

On Friday 28 January, OKay will open its 142nd store in Heers. The practical local supermarket is 555 m² in size and is located at Steenweg 93. The store was built sustainably and does not make use of fossil fuels. Customers will find everything they need to do their daily groceries fast, cheap and easily. Store manager Soufian and his team of 8 co-workers are looking forward to welcoming their customers with a smile.

Fresh and modern design

OKay Heers is the 142nd OKay store in Belgium. "My team and I are very proud to run this store and are looking forward to hearing and seeing all the reactions."

The local supermarket is part of Colruyt Group's new generation of OKay stores and has a fresh and modern design. Soufian: "In the freshmart, the wide aisles ensure a pleasant shopping experience. Our extensive range of daily fresh fruit and vegetables is shown to full advantage." The range of fresh products is one of OKay's strengths: fruit and vegetables, dairy products, meat, cold cuts, fish and ready-to-eat meals. "We also placed a stand outside the freshmart, offering a wide range of meat, fish and veggie snacks to spend a nice aperitif evening with friends."

Fresh bread is delivered every day and the co-workers bake off high-quality rolls and pastries several times a day. All these delicious products are presented in a handy bread rack. Soufian: "Our bread corner has a highly ergonomic design and is very user-friendly for both the co-workers and the customers." The frozen department has chest-type freezers with glass lids. That way, customers can find their favourite products fast and easily.

Easily accessible with ample parking

The new OKay store is located at the connecting road Steenweg 93. The car park has room for 43 cars and is equipped with 2 charging posts for electric cars. Customers who come by bike can use the spacious bike shed which also has room for cargo bikes. "We are looking forward to the opening and cannot wait to meet the local residents", Soufian says.

Minimal environmental impact

Like the other Colruyt Group store formats, OKay is firmly committed to building sustainably and with a minimal ecological footprint. "We do not use fossil fuels at OKay Heers", Soufian explains. "The refrigeration system works on propane, a natural coolant that is much more environment-friendly than its synthetic alternatives. This reduces CO₂ emissions by 90% compared to conventional refrigeration systems. Moreover, the heat released by the refrigeration system is recovered to heat the store, thus drastically reducing greenhouse emissions. Rainwater is collected in a wadi, a shallow water basin. We then allow the water to steadily seep into the ground, in this way relieving the sewer system."

Sustainability was once again at the forefront when designing the store's exterior. The facade was treated with special paint that breaks down toxic substances in the air under the influence of sunlight.