Audax Groep#AKO
{{short description|Print media company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Audax Groep
| logo = Audax1.JPG
| logo_caption = Audax headquarters
| logo_alt =
| type = Besloten Vennootschap
| industry = Print media, retail
| fate =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| founded = 1958
| founder = Jacques de Leeuw
| defunct =
| hq_location_city = Gilze
| hq_location_country = Netherlands
| area_served =
| key_people = Hubert de Leeuw, CEO/chair
| products = magazines
| owners = De Leeuw family members
| num_employees =
| num_employees_year =
| parent =
| website = {{URL|audax.nl}}
}}
Audax Groep is a Dutch print media and retail company, active also in Belgium. The publishing arm publishes magazines. It also produces and prints books, calendars, and flyers for other companies and builds websites. The Audax headquarters are located in Gilze.
History
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 2018, Audax sold magazine publisher Cascade to DPG Media, parting from magazines Primo, Eos, Bahamontes, Motoren & Toerisme and For Girls Only.{{cite web |title=De Persgroep Publishing en Medialaan nemen uitgeverij van EOS over |url=https://www.hln.be/geld/economie/de-persgroep-publishing-en-medialaan-nemen-uitgeverij-van-eos-over~a19c74bf/ |website=HLN |publisher=De Persgroep |accessdate=11 April 2019}} But for Primo, DPG sold these magazines again.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tijd.be/ondernemen/media-marketing/uitgeverij-achter-primo-en-eos-ontmanteld/10122040.html|title=Uitgeverij achter Primo en Eos ontmanteld|date=2019-04-29|website=De Tijd|language=nl|access-date=2019-05-07}} In November 2020, Audax Publishing published 11 magazines. Its most notables titles were HP/De Tijd, Weekend, Party, and Mijn Geheim. Most titles were acquired from the Finnish Sanoma concern.
In 2019 Hubert de Leeuw was replaced by Casper de Nooijer. In 2020, Hubert de Leeuw took over the lead again.{{cite news|website=RetailTrends|url=https://retailtrends.nl/news/61864/eigenaar-bruna-en-marskramer-stuurt-ceo-weg|title=Eigenaar Bruna en Marskramer stuurt ceo weg|date=26 September 2020}} In May 2021 Audax published an intention to sell off the Marskramer, Novy and Prima stores it had acquired in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://retailtrends.nl/news/64283/audax-doet-marskramer-na-twee-jaar-van-de-hand|title='Audax doet Marskramer na twee jaar van de hand'}} In August 2021, these were acquired by the toy chain Otto Simon.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/economie/bedrijven/artikel/5250094/winkels-marskramer-speelgoed-otto-simon-audax|title=Winkels Marskramer overgenomen door speelgoedhandel Otto Simon|date=25 August 2021|website=RTL Nieuws}} On 1 April 2022, HP/De Tijd left the Audax Groep after 31 years. Since then, HP/De Tijd is published by a newly established nonprifit, Het Vrije Woord.{{cite news|quote=Na 31 jaar als weekblad en vervolgens maandblad onder de vleugels van moederconcern Audax te hebben geopereerd, zal HP/De Tijd zelfstandig verdergaan.|date=29 March 2022|title=HP/De Tijd gaat zelfstandig verder|url=https://www.hpdetijd.nl/2022-03-29/hp-de-tijd-gaat-zelfstandig-verder/|magazine=HP/De Tijd}}
Retail
= AKO =
The Algemene Kiosk Onderneming (AKO) is a Dutch kiosk/bookstore chain. 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. In April 2023 it had 66 stores, down from 72 stores in November 2020.
= Bruna =
File:Bruna, Hoogezand (2019) 02.jpg.]]
Bruna is a Dutch bookseller. In addition to books it sells newspapers, magazines, stationery, computer software, and cards. Bruna was founded in 1868 as a bookselling and publishing firm. The company was led by Henk Bruna from 1935 to 1982.{{in lang|nl}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20080606185712/http://www.wereldomroep.nl/news/zijlijn/5658613/Henk-Bruna-oprichter-Brunawinkels-overleden "Henk Bruna, oprichter Bruna-winkels, overleden"], Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 26 February 2008, archived from [http://www.wereldomroep.nl/news/zijlijn/5658613/Henk-Bruna-oprichter-Brunawinkels-overleden the original] on 6 June 2008. ֿIts head office was in Houten until spring 2019, when as a cost-cutting measure it relocated to Amsterdam.{{in lang|nl}} Peet Vogels, [https://www.ad.nl/economie/bruna-wil-100-nieuwe-winkels-we-zijn-geen-grijze-muis-meer~a68fcb16/ "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 lang|nl}} [https://www.nu.nl/economie/4466895/aandeelhouders-postnl-en-ing-schieten-bruna-hulp.html "Aandeelhouders PostNL en ING schieten Bruna te hulp"], NU.nl, 14 February 2017.{{in lang|nl}} Alexander Leeuw, [https://www.nd.nl/nieuws/economie/633148/nu-ook-bruna-in-zwaar-weer "Nu ook Bruna in zwaar weer"], Nederlands Dagblad, 16 February 2017 (subscription required). In December 2017 the company was acquired by the publisher Veen Bosch & Keuning (VBK).{{in lang|nl}} Hanneke Chin-A-Fo and Toef Jaeger, [https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2017/12/06/boekhandels-winkelketen-bruna-overgenomen-door-uitgeefconcern-vbk-a1583872 "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).{{in lang|nl}} [https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/bruna-overgenomen-door-moederbedrijf-van-concurrent-ako~bc068e8a/ "Bruna overgenomen door moederbedrijf van concurrent AKO"], De Volkskrant, 19 November 2019.{{in lang|nl}} Floor Bouma, [https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2019/11/18/bruna-en-ako-moederbedrijf-audax-gaan-samen-verder-a3980782 "Bruna en AKO-moederbedrijf Audax gaan samen verder"], NRC Handelsblad, 18 November 2019. In November 2020, Bruna operated 270 shops. In April 2023, the number of stores was down to 244.
= Read Shop =
Read Shop is a network of stores throughout the Netherlands that sell books, magazines, office supplies, tobacco products, and snacks. The number of stores in April 2023 is 144, down from 170 in November 2020.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://audax.nl/ Official website] {{in lang|nl}}
{{Bookstore chains}}
Category:Bookstores in the Netherlands
Category:Dutch companies established in 1958
Category:Publishing companies of the Netherlands