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Flash delivery company Gorillas – a courier service that delivers groceries to your home within ten minutes by bike – is going to lay off all its 240 employees in Belgium. The company stops its activities in Antwerp and Brussels. That’s what the socialist union says. The company itself does not confirm that departure and says it will “reduce” services in Antwerp.
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Christof Willocx
Yesterday at 20:04–
Gorillas is a German company that, since the summer of last year, has delivered groceries ordered via the company’s website within ten minutes via a bicycle courier in certain parts of Brussels and Antwerp. And that for just 1.8 euros in delivery costs and with product prices that are comparable to traditional supermarkets. In Antwerp, Gorillas delivers groceries such as bread, coffee, vegetables, spaghetti, beer and other products in the center of the city, from the Exhibition District on the Kiel to the Eilandje and part of Borgerhout. But in recent weeks there have been persistent rumors that Gorillas would stop in Belgium.
ALSO READ. Done with super-fast deliveries? Flash courier Gorillas may have already left Antwerp
Union confirms layoffs
This has now been confirmed by the socialist trade union ABVV Horval. “The management has made it known that it wants to stop its activities in Belgium and wanted to speak to each staff member separately,” says Yvan De Jonge, secretary of ABVV Horval. “We said that this is better done in consultation with the trade unions, so that the social rights of all workers are certainly respected. We would reach an agreement by June 27. The 240 employees will be laid off. Today, those people are still at home, with retention of their wages.” About 40% of those 240 employees work in Antwerp, the rest in Brussels.
–A Gorillas branch, from where the orders originate. — © Gorillas
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Difficult communication
When asked for comment, Gorillas said on Friday afternoon that “in Belgium we have decided to reduce our current activities and close some of our facilities, effective June 13. However, we will remain open in Antwerp and Brussels, and continue to serve our customers within the same delivery area.”
What is it now, will Gorillas close in Belgium after June 13 or not? Gorillas gives no further explanation. But when we confront the union with Gorillas’ communication, it is very clear. “Gorillas does intend to fire everyone in Belgium,” says Yvan De Jonge.
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