Inno

In May 1897, A l'Innovation opened in Brussels.{{Cite web |last=Rompaey |first=Stefan Van |date=2022-05-02 |title=Is INNO ready for the next 125 years? |url=https://www.retaildetail.eu/news/general/is-inno-ready-for-the-next-125-years/ |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=RetailDetail EU |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=15 June 2011 |title=Les Bernheim, de l'Inno au mécénat |url=https://www.lecho.be/dossier/130ans/les-bernheim-de-l-inno-au-mecenat/9070615.html |access-date=1 February 2025 |website=L'Echo}} The department store was founded by Julien Bernheim.

The chain is a founding member of the International Association of Department Stores, but membership ended in 2001. Emile Bernheim (son of Julien and president of Inno from the 1920's) was president of the association in 1931, 1935, 1950 and 1960.[https://www.iads.org/web/home-public/2303-iads-presidents.php iads.org - Presidents]

In 1925, following the death of Julien Bernheim, his son Émile Bernheim became head of the company.

The Rue Neuve flagship (constructed between 1901 and 1903 and designed by Victor Horta) was destroyed in a fire in 1967 which killed either 251 or 325 people depending on the source.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=Robyn |date=2017-05-22 |title=Brussels commemorates 50 years since deadly department store fire |url=https://www.thebulletin.be/brussels-commemorates-50-years-deadly-department-store-fire |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=The Bulletin |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Inno fire |url=https://www.brusselsremembers.com/memorials/inno-fire |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=Brussels Remembers |language=en}} The incident is however the deadliest fire in Belgian history.{{Cite book |last=Stéphany |first=Pierre |title=Les années 1960 en Belgique |date= |publisher=Racine Lannoo |year=2006 |isbn=978-2-87386-487-3 |location=Brussels |pages= |language=fr |trans-title=The 1960's in Belgium}} It was after this incident that the department store rebranded from Innovation to Inno.

Inno expanded into France in March 1962 with a hypermarket format,{{Cite news |date=1964-04-29 |title=Les Galeries Lafayette vont apporter à Inno-France en crise de croissance l'aide de leurs cadres et de leur centrale d'achat |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1964/04/29/les-galeries-lafayette-vont-apporter-a-inno-france-en-crise-de-croissance-l-aide-de-leurs-cadres-et-de-leur-centrale-d-achat_2135749_1819218.html |access-date=2025-02-02 |language=fr}} however in 1964 due to poor sales a majority stake in Inno-France was sold to Galeries Lafayette.{{Cite news |date=1971-04-09 |title=Les Galeries Lafayette reprennent Inno-France |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1971/04/09/les-galeries-lafayette-reprennent-inno-france_2461402_1819218.html |access-date=2025-02-02 |language=fr}} The management of the stores was taken over by Galeries Lafayette in 1965, in 1971 the stake was upped to 88% and Inno no longer held shares in the company.{{Cite news |date=1971-07-14 |title=Les frères Willot rachètent aux Galeries Lafayette le magasin Inno-B.J. |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1971/07/14/les-freres-willot-rachetent-aux-galeries-lafayette-le-magasin-inno-b-j_2452230_1819218.html |access-date=2025-02-02 |language=fr}} The management of Inno France was taken over by Monoprix and in 2013 the final Inno-France stores were closed.{{Cite web |title=Inno : l’enseigne a disparu sans tambour ni trompettes |url=https://www.lineaires.com/la-distribution/inno-l-enseigne-a-disparu-sans-tambour-ni-trompettes-40691 |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=www.lineaires.com |language=fr-FR}}

In 1969, the company merged with Bon Marché (unrelated to the French Le Bon Marché) to create Inno-BM.{{Cite web |last=Linguana |date=2020-01-23 |title=From Au Bon Marché to Galeria Inno : rise and fall of the department store in Belgium |url=https://scse.eu/en/from-au-bon-marche-to-galeria-inno-rise-and-fall-of-the-department-stores-in-belgium/ |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=Scorpio Consultancy Services Europe |language=en-US}} Then in 1974 Inno-BM merges with GB to create GB-Inno-BM (later renamed to GIB Group).{{Cite web |date=1995-11-17 |title=LES MULTIPLES CRISES DU GROUPE GIB LE PREMIER DISTRIBUTEUR BELGE: UN GRAND BAZAR BRICOLAGE: LE REVE AMERICAIN BRISE |url=https://www.lesoir.be/art/les-multiples-crises-du-groupe-gib-le-premier-distribut_t-19951117-Z0A9XW.html |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=Le Soir |language=fr}}

Galeria Kaufhof purchased the chain in April 2001, with this Galeria was added to the chain's name to become Galeria Inno.{{Cite web |last=A.Ma |date=2025-02-01 |title=Inno: la rénovation d'une institution |url=https://www.lalibre.be/economie/entreprises-startup/2004/09/29/inno-la-renovation-dune-institution-YNZDO3MCEVDXRIY3OOUA7ZKH44/ |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=La Libre.be |language=fr}} In 2015, Hudson's Bay Company purchased a majority of Galeria Kaufhof from Metro AG.{{Cite news |date=2017-07-13 |title=HBC-Logo ziert jetzt das Kölner HBC Europe Service-Center |url=https://www.galeria-kaufhof.de/unternehmen/presse/aktuelles/hbc-logo-an-zentrale/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731231208/https://www.galeria-kaufhof.de/unternehmen/presse/aktuelles/hbc-logo-an-zentrale/ |archive-date=2017-07-31 |access-date=2017-07-31 |work=Galeria Kaufhof |language=de}}{{Cite press release |title=Hudson's Bay Company to Acquire Galeria Holding, Parent of Kaufhof, #1 Department Store in Germany |publisher=Hudson's Bay Company |url=http://investor.hbc.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=917844 |access-date=5 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927153037/http://investor.hbc.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=917844 |archive-date=27 September 2015}}

In 2018, Galeria Kaufhof merged with Karstadt to form Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof. In 2019, HBC divested it's shares in the company and Signa Holding took full control.{{Cite web |last=BE |first=FashionNetwork com |title=Signa to take full control of Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof |url=https://be.fashionnetwork.com/nl-be/news/Signa-to-take-full-control-of-galeria-karstadt-kaufhof,1108145.html |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=FashionNetwork.com |language=nl-BE}}

The chain rebranded from Galeria Inno to Inno in 2021 and for the first time the brand opened a web shop.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-30 |title=INNO reinvents itself and opens online marketplace |url=https://www.retaildetail.eu/news/general/inno-reinvents-itself-and-opens-online-marketplace/ |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=RetailDetail EU |language=en-US}} A new store format also began to be rolled out across the brand beginning with the Schoten branch in 2020.{{Cite web |date=2020-12-16 |title=Galeria Inno department stores get extreme makeover |url=https://www.retaildetail.eu/news/general/galeria-inno-department-stores-get-extreme-makeover/ |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=RetailDetail EU |language=en-US}}

File:Galeria Inno logo (2004).svg

Plans to sell Galeria Inno were announced in late 2023. {{Cite web |last=McNally |first=Paul |date=2023-02-09 |title=Belgium’s Galleria Inno department stores to be sold |url=https://www.thebulletin.be/belgiums-galleria-inno-department-stores-be-sold |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=The Bulletin |language=en}} In July 2024, Axcent (Swedish retail group, majority shareholder of Åhléns) and Skel (Icelandic investment group) announced they would purchase the company for an undisclosed amount.{{Cite web |last=Club |first=Press |date=2024-07-13 |title=Belgian department store INNO bought by Axcent of Scandinavia |url=https://fashionunited.uk/press/business/belgian-department-store-inno-bought-by-axcent-of-scandinavia/2024071376617 |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=FashionUnited |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=McNally |first=Paul |date=2023-02-09 |title=Belgium’s Galleria Inno department stores to be sold |url=https://www.thebulletin.be/belgiums-galleria-inno-department-stores-be-sold |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=The Bulletin |language=en}}

INNO operates 16 department stores throughout Belgium, of which four are located in Brussels: Inno Bascule,{{Cite web |title=INNO Bascule |url=https://www.inno.be/fr/stores/detail?id=inno-brussel-bascule |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=www.inno.be |language=fr}} Inno Louise,{{Cite web |title=INNO Louise |url=https://www.inno.be/fr/stores/detail?id=inno-brussel-louiza |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=www.inno.be |language=fr}} Inno Rue Neuve,{{Cite web |title=INNO rue Neuve |url=https://www.inno.be/fr/stores/detail?id=inno-brussel-nieuwstraat |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=www.inno.be |language=fr}} and Inno Woluwe.{{Cite web |title=INNO Woluwe |url=https://www.inno.be/fr/stores/detail?id=inno-woluwe |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=www.inno.be |language=fr}}

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Category:Retail companies of Belgium

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