The bankruptcy of Bristol: how it has affected the shoe retail market in Belgium and the Netherlands
In the second half of 2024, footwear retailer Bristol filed for bankruptcy in both Belgium and the Netherlands. Known for its accessible pricing and broad presence across high streets, Bristol had long been a fixture in the shoe market of both countries. Its closure marked a significant moment in the retail landscape and prompted a shift in customer behaviour, as well as in the competitive dynamics among the remaining players.
Using Accurat’s MarketMonitor tool, we analysed footfall data and consumer visit patterns to understand the impact of Bristol’s exit on the market in both Belgium and the Netherlands. The data reveals how customers redistributed their visits, and which competitors were most successful in capturing this traffic.
🇧🇪 Belgium: from closure to takeover
A sudden exit
In Belgium, Bristol's bankruptcy was officially declared in early September 2024. A total of 114 stores were closed. The news came as a shock to many, especially long-standing customers who had grown accustomed to the brand's wide, family-oriented range. However, the closure quickly opened up opportunities for competitors to fill the gap.
Chaussea steps in
Soon after the announcement, Chaussea, a French footwear chain, acquired 57 of the 114 Belgian stores—half of Bristol’s national footprint. This strategic acquisition not only gave Chaussea a stronger presence in the country but also allowed it to take over some of Bristol’s best-located properties. This move formed part of Chaussea's broader ambitions to grow its share of the Belgian market.
What stands out in Belgium is how effectively Chaussea made use of the opportunity. They acquired 50% of the stores and attracted more than 50% of the footfall previously going to Bristol. That’s a strong indication of successful store conversion.
How visits shifted across brands
By the first quarter of 2025, Accurat’s data showed that Chaussea had attracted more than half of Bristol’s former customer visits. While the brand had taken over 50% of the stores, its ability to draw over 50% of the corresponding footfall suggests that it managed the transition effectively. Together with its existing stores, Chaussea now controls more than half of the market in visits.
The rest of Bristol’s visits were redistributed relatively evenly among competitors. However, Torfs and vanHaren stood out. While Torfs gained the largest share in absolute terms, vanHaren performed particularly well when the data was adjusted for each competitor’s previous market share.
In relation to their size in the market, vanHaren showed the strongest growth—demonstrating its success in appealing to former Bristol shoppers.
Conversion success at former Bristol stores
At the locations now operated by Chaussea, approximately 76% of visits came from former Bristol customers. These stores also succeeded in attracting visitors from Torfs, vanHaren, and even Chaussea’s original network—highlighting both loyalty retention and effective new customer acquisition.
These newly converted stores didn’t just retain former Bristol customers—they also attracted visitors from other brands. It highlights the strength of a well-executed rebranding and store integration.
🇳🇱 The Netherlands: a market without a takeover
Full closure, no restart
In the Netherlands, Bristol filed for bankruptcy in August 2024, and unlike in Belgium, there was no acquisition or continuation of operations. All stores closed permanently, and no party stepped in to take over the network. This marked a complete exit from the Dutch market, and competitors were left to respond organically to the resulting gap in the market.
Projections vs. actual behaviour
Prior to the closure, Accurat modelled projections for how Bristol’s footfall might be redistributed. Based on store locations and customer overlap, Scapino was expected to gain the majority of visits, followed by vanHaren.
However, the actual data showed a different trend. While Scapino attracted the most visits in total numbers, vanHaren gained more than anticipated. Notably, vanHaren’s share of visits more than doubled, demonstrating strong appeal and fast adaptation.
Customer shifts after closure
When looking at visit patterns across the six months before and after the bankruptcy, Scapino received the most redirected visits in raw numbers.
But when those visits were adjusted relative to previous brand size, vanHaren emerged as the clear winner in terms of visit share growth.
We initially expected Scapino to benefit most due to its store footprint. But it was vanHaren who outperformed expectations. vanHaren's visit share has grown significantly.
A changing retail landscape
Bristol’s closure has had a clear and measurable effect on the shoe retail markets in both countries—though the developments in each were quite different.
In Belgium, the story was one of continuity through acquisition. Chaussea’s purchase of 57 stores enabled a smoother customer transition, while Torfs and vanHaren were able to pick up a portion of the remaining footfall.
In the Netherlands, with no structured acquisition in place, customer behaviour changed more fluidly. Brands such as vanHaren benefited most—driven less by proximity and more by their brand positioning and relevance to Bristol’s customer base.
Data-driven decisions in retail
Events like store closures and bankruptcies can have significant consequences for the retail sector. With tools like Accurat’s MarketMonitor, brands can track foot traffic, understand customer migration, and react with agility to changing market conditions.