Audax Groep

Audax Groep is a Dutch print media and retail company, active also in Belgium. Its headquarters are located in Gilze. Audax was founded in 1958 by Jacques de Leeuw. Jacques de Leeuw led the company until 2017 when he was replaced by his son, Hubert de Leeuw. In 2019 he was replaced by Casper de Nooijer. In 2020, Hubert de Leeuw took over the lead again. In May 2021 Audax published an intention to sell off the Marskramer, Novy and Prima stores it had acquired in 2019. In August 2021, these were acquired by the toy chain Otto Simon.

Publishing

Audax Publishing publishes 11 magazines (figure for November 2020). Its most notables titles are HP/De Tijd, Weekend, Party, and Mijn Geheim. Most titles were acquired from the Finnish Sanoma concern. In 2018, Audax sold magazine publisher Cascade to DPG Media, parting from magazines ''Primo'', ''Eos'', ''Bahamontes'', ''Motoren & Toerisme'' and ''For Girls Only''. But for ''Primo'', DPG sold these magazines again. Audux Publishing also produces and prints books, calendars, and flyers for other companies and builds websites.

Retail

AKO

The Algemene Kiosk Onderneming (AKO) is a kiosk/bookstore chain with 72 stores throughout the Netherlands in November 2020. The company was founded in 1878 as the Amsterdamsche Kiosk Onderneming. Many shops are located at railway stations. A typical shop stores 1,500 books and 2000 magazines. Dutch and international newspapers, magazines, and books are sold. The stores also sell basic office supplies, greeting cards, lottery and football pool tickets, gift cards, tobacco products, light beverages, and sweets.

Bruna

Bruna is a Dutch bookseller. In addition to books it sells newspapers, magazines, stationery, computer software, and cards. In November 2020, Bruna operates 270 shops in the Netherlands. Bruna was founded in 1868. The company was led by Henk Bruna from 1935 to 1982. ֿIts head office was in Houten until spring 2019, when as a cost-cutting measure it relocated to Amsterdam. Peet Vogels
"Bruna wil 100 nieuwe winkels, 'we zijn geen grijze muis meer'"
''Algemeen Dagblad'', 18 April 2019.

In early 2017, the book chain was in serious financial trouble; its main stockholders came to the rescue in February. In December 2017 the company was acquired by the publisher Veen Bosch & Keuning (VBK). Hanneke Chin-A-Fo and Toef Jaeger
"Winkelketen Bruna overgenomen door uitgeefconcern VBK"
''NRC Handelsblad'', 6 December 2017 (subscription required). In late 2019, the company was acquired by Audax, the parent company of competing bookseller Algemene Kiosk Onderneming (AKO)."Bruna overgenomen door moederbedrijf van concurrent AKO"
''De Volkskrant'', 19 November 2019. Floor Bouma
"Bruna en AKO-moederbedrijf Audax gaan samen verder"
'' NRC Handelsblad'', 18 November 2019.

Marskramer

Marskramer is a chain of 39 stores (in November 2020) that sell homeware. If the store is also a Toys2Play shop, it also sells toys. It was acquired by Audax in 2019 from the Mirage Retail Group.

Novy

Novy is a homeware and appliances store, founded in 1997. It is a subsidiary of Marskramer with 15 stores (November 2020). These, too, often double as Toys2Play stores. By province:
* Gelderland, North Brabant – 4 stores each
* Friesland – 3 stores
* North Holland, South Holland, Utrecht, Zeeland – 1 store each

Prima

Prima is a homeware and appliances store. It is a subsidiary of Marskramer with 26 stores (November 2020). By province:
* South Holland – 7 stores
* Limburg, North Brants, Utrecht and Zeeland – 3 stores each
* Drenthe and Overijssel – 2 stores each
* Friesland, Gelderland, North Holland – 1 store each
Prima stores often double as Toys2Play stores. For example, in Limburg 2 out of the 3 stores are also Toys2Play.

Read Shop

Read Shop is a network of 170 stores throughout the Netherlands that sell books, magazines, office supplies, tobacco products, and snacks.

References

External links

Official website

{{Bookstore chains

Bookstores in the Netherlands
Dutch companies established in 1958
Publishing companies of the Netherlands
Retail companies of the Netherlands
Companies based in North Brabant