Cactus (supermarket)
Encyclopedia
Cactus is the name of a Luxembourg supermarket business. It is one of Luxembourg
’s leading family-run businesses, known for food and general "quality of life" stores of several sizes using the brands Cactus, Supercactus, Cactus marché (Cactus Market) and CactusShoppi. The group also operates speciality shops selling items such as flowers or CDs. As of 1 January 2011, Cactus is Luxembourg's third largest employer.
The logo of the company is the green silhouette of a three fingered cactus: sometimes the colours are reversed, resulting in a white cactus silhouette on a green background.
. In 1955 the business passed to the third generation when the sons of Alfred Leesch, Paul and Alfred, took it over. In 1962 they created the first self-service store, known as the Vivo (Vereinigte Internationale Verkaufs-Organisation). A coffee shop was added in 1966.
The first Cactus supermarket opened on 19 October 1967 in Bereldange
. The name Cactus was taken by Paul Leesch from the title of a 1966 Jacques Dutronc
song. A year later a second Cactus store opened at Esch-sur-Alzette
on the site of a former cinema in the Brill district of the town, and a second Esch store opened the year after that.
1974 saw the company open its first shopping mall, the Belle Etoile
in Bertrange
, on the main road (subsequently complemented by a parallel motorway) linking Luxembourg and Belgium. The project initially came in BEF 100 million over budget which threatened prematurely to end it, but the developers were persuaded to accept a lower price which enabled the Belle Etoile to be saved.
New stores opened in the late 1970s in Remich
, Mersch
and Pétange
, with further store openings elsewhere in Luxembourg subsequently.
The company’s first butchers shop opened under the name Schnékert in 1979. Ten years later, in 1989, the Inn restaurant was opened at the flagship Belle Etoile shopping mall, and in the 1990s the company expanded into DIY and home improvement retailing, opening major DIY stores in Howald
, Diekirch
and Esch
.
In 2001 Paul Leesch retired from the top job and was succeeded by his son, Max Leesch.
In 2009 the company joined Europe’s major supermarkets in launching its own fidelity card
scheme.
.
In 2008, a number of smaller local Cactus Shoppi were opened, first in connection with filling stations, then in the following years also on independent sites.
As of 1 January 2011, Cactus is Luxembourg's third largest employer with 3,900 staff, following ArcelorMittal (6,070) and BGL BNP Paribas
(4,110).
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
’s leading family-run businesses, known for food and general "quality of life" stores of several sizes using the brands Cactus, Supercactus, Cactus marché (Cactus Market) and CactusShoppi. The group also operates speciality shops selling items such as flowers or CDs. As of 1 January 2011, Cactus is Luxembourg's third largest employer.
The logo of the company is the green silhouette of a three fingered cactus: sometimes the colours are reversed, resulting in a white cactus silhouette on a green background.
History
In 1900, Joseph Leesch, established a grocery store. In 1905 the business was expanded with his business partner, Michel Donven, to incorporate a "colonial goods wholesaler" importing items such as sugar, tobacco, cocoa, coffee, rice, tea and internationally traded spices. In 1928 the partnership was dissolved and Leesch created a new business, Leesch Frères (Leesch Brothers) with his three sons, Arthur, Jacques and Aloyse. In 1930 Leesch opened a coffee shop on the Rue de Strasbourg in Luxembourg-cityLuxembourg (city)
The city of Luxembourg , also known as Luxembourg City , is a commune with city status, and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is located at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg...
. In 1955 the business passed to the third generation when the sons of Alfred Leesch, Paul and Alfred, took it over. In 1962 they created the first self-service store, known as the Vivo (Vereinigte Internationale Verkaufs-Organisation). A coffee shop was added in 1966.
The first Cactus supermarket opened on 19 October 1967 in Bereldange
Bereldange
Bereldange is a town in the commune of Walferdange, in central Luxembourg. As of 2005, the town has a population of 3,570.Though only a small town, Bereldange sports most of the facilities a family requires: supermarkets; petrol-stations; school; and fast-food chains...
. The name Cactus was taken by Paul Leesch from the title of a 1966 Jacques Dutronc
Jacques Dutronc
Jacques Dutronc is a French singer, songwriter, guitarist, composer, and actor. He has been married to singer Françoise Hardy since 30 March 1981 and the two have a son . He also has been a longtime songwriting collaborator with Jacques Lanzmann...
song. A year later a second Cactus store opened at Esch-sur-Alzette
Esch-sur-Alzette
Esch-sur-Alzette is a commune with city status, in south-western Luxembourg. It is the country's second city, and its second-most populous commune, with a population of 29,853 people...
on the site of a former cinema in the Brill district of the town, and a second Esch store opened the year after that.
1974 saw the company open its first shopping mall, the Belle Etoile
La Belle Etoile
La Belle Etoile is a shopping mall in Bertrange, in south-western Luxembourg. It is owned by Cactus, Luxembourg's largest retailer and third-largest employer....
in Bertrange
Bertrange
Bertrange is a commune and town in south-western Luxembourg. It is located 6.5 km west of Luxembourg City., the town of Bertrange, which lies in the north-east of the commune, has a population of 6,021 of which just over half are Luxemburgers...
, on the main road (subsequently complemented by a parallel motorway) linking Luxembourg and Belgium. The project initially came in BEF 100 million over budget which threatened prematurely to end it, but the developers were persuaded to accept a lower price which enabled the Belle Etoile to be saved.
New stores opened in the late 1970s in Remich
Remich
Remich is a commune with city status in south-eastern Luxembourg with just under 3,000 inhabitants. It is the capital of the canton of Remich, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher. Remich lies on the left bank of the Moselle river, which forms part of the border between Luxembourg and...
, Mersch
Mersch
Mersch is a commune and town in central Luxembourg, capital of the canton of Mersch. It is situated at the confluence of the rivers Alzette, Mamer and Eisch., the town of Mersch, which lies in the centre of the commune, has a population of 3,345...
and Pétange
Pétange
Pétange is a commune and town in south-western Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Esch-sur-Alzette, which is part of the district of Luxembourg. Pétange lies on the borders with both Belgium and France....
, with further store openings elsewhere in Luxembourg subsequently.
The company’s first butchers shop opened under the name Schnékert in 1979. Ten years later, in 1989, the Inn restaurant was opened at the flagship Belle Etoile shopping mall, and in the 1990s the company expanded into DIY and home improvement retailing, opening major DIY stores in Howald
Howald
Howald is a town in the commune of Hesperange, in southern Luxembourg. The town merges almost seamlessly with Luxembourg City's south-eastern suburban quarter of South Bonnevoie, which lies to the north of Howald...
, Diekirch
Diekirch
Diekirch is a commune with city status in north-eastern Luxembourg, capital city of the canton Diekirch and the district of Diekirch. The city is situated on the banks of the Sauer river....
and Esch
Esch-sur-Alzette
Esch-sur-Alzette is a commune with city status, in south-western Luxembourg. It is the country's second city, and its second-most populous commune, with a population of 29,853 people...
.
In 2001 Paul Leesch retired from the top job and was succeeded by his son, Max Leesch.
In 2009 the company joined Europe’s major supermarkets in launching its own fidelity card
Loyalty program
Loyalty programs are structured marketing efforts that reward, and therefore encourage, loyal buying behavior — behavior which is potentially beneficial to the firm....
scheme.
Cactus in the 21st century
In 2006 the company reported a turnover of €750 Million. The same year it was the country’s second largest free sector employer, with 3,950 on the payroll, exceeded in this respect only by Arcelor-MittalArcelor-Mittal
ArcelorMittal S.A. is a global steel company headquartered in Avenue de la Liberté, Luxembourg, Luxembourg. It is the largest steel producing company in the world and is the market leader in steel for use in automotive, construction, household appliances and packaging. It holds sizeable captive...
.
In 2008, a number of smaller local Cactus Shoppi were opened, first in connection with filling stations, then in the following years also on independent sites.
As of 1 January 2011, Cactus is Luxembourg's third largest employer with 3,900 staff, following ArcelorMittal (6,070) and BGL BNP Paribas
BGL BNP Paribas
BGL BNP Paribas is a Luxembourg bank founded on 29 September 1919. Since May 2009, the bank has been a member of the BNP Paribas group...
(4,110).