Action (store)

Dutch multinational variety store chain

For other uses, see Action (disambiguation).

Action

Company type| Private
Industry| Retail
Founded| July 1993; 32 years ago (1993-07) in Enkhuizen, Netherlands
Headquarters|

Zwaagdijk-Oost

Netherlands

Number of locations

| 3,070[1] (2025)

Areas served

| Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, Slovakia, Romania, Switzerland

Key people

| Hajir Hajji (CEO)
Simon Borrows (chairman)
Revenue| €11.3 billion[2] (2023)
Owner| 3i (80%)

Number of employees

| ~70,000 (2023)
Website| action.com
Action store in a former church in Hoorn, Netherlands Action store in Overmere, Belgium Action in department store in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland

Action is a Dutch international discount store chain with a majority ownership held by British private equity firm 3i, with more than 80% of the shares.[3] It sells low budget, non-food and some food products with long shelf lives. Action operates stores in 14 countries, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Austria, Luxembourg, Poland, Czech Republic, Italy, since 2022 in Spain, since 2023 in Slovakia, since 2024 in Portugal and since 2025 in Romania and Switzerland. Action, with over 2,500 stores and 70,000 employees, generated €11.3 billion in net sales in 2023.[4]

## History

[edit]

Countries in Europe with Action store outlets

Action was founded by Gerard Deen and Rob Wagemaker, who were later joined by Boris Deen. They opened their first store in 1993 in Enkhuizen and started expanding by founding new stores that same year. In 2002, they had 94 stores; in 2005, the first store was opened in Belgium, in Rijkevorsel; and, in 2009, they opened their first store in Germany. In 2012, the company had 300 stores and opened its first store in France. In 2014, Action opened its 500th store. It continued growing exponentially. In 2021, there were more than 1,800 stores across Europe. In November 2023 they opened their 2500th store. In June 2025 they opened their 3000th store.[5]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Stores | Action.com". www.action.com.
2. ^ "Action results 2023: Continued growth and development".
3. ^ "3i Group breaks through £20bn valuation on back of extraordinary Action". citywire.com. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
4. ^ "Action results 2023: continued growth and development". 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
5. ^ "Map of locations" (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 June 2017.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Variety stores

Asia|

* 100-yen shop (Japan and East Asia)
* Daiso (East and Southeast Asia)
* Living Plaza by Aeon (Hong Kong)
* Watashi to Seikatsu (Hong Kong)
* Loft (Japan)
* Hands (Japan et al.)
* Eslite Spectrum (Taiwan et al.)

Europe|

| Mainland|

* Action
* Dealz
* EuroGiant
* Flying Tiger Copenhagen
* føtex
* HEMA
* KiK
* Monoprix
* NKD
* Normal
* Pepco
* TEDi
* UPIM
* Karstadt
* Tokmanni
* Woolworth
* Zeeman

|

United
Kingdom|

* B&M
* Bargain Buys
* Boyes
* Home Bargains
* OneBeyond
* The Original Factory Shop
* The Range
* Poundland
* Poundstretcher
* QD
* Yorkshire Trading Company

North
America|

| Canada|

* A Buck or Two
* Dollar Tree Canada
* Dollarama
* Fields
* Giant Tiger
* Great Canadian Dollar Store
* Hart Stores
* Red Apple and The Bargain! Shop
* Rossy
* Your Dollar Store with More

|

Mexico|

* Casa Ley
* Waldo's Dollar Mart

United
States|

* 99 Cents Only Stores
* ABC Stores
* Big Lots
* Daiso (also Canada)
* Dollar General
* Dollar Tree
* Family Dollar
* Five Below
* Ollie's Bargain Outlet
* Ocean State Job Lot

Oceania|

* Daiso (Australia)
* The Reject Shop (Australia)

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