The constituent members of the Luxembourg Retail Federation gathered around their president, Robert Goeres (centre with pink tie). On the far right, Claude Bizjak of the CLC emphasised the originality of this structure compared to other European countries. Photo: Guy Wolff/Maison Moderne

The constituent members of the Luxembourg Retail Federation gathered around their president, Robert Goeres (centre with pink tie). On the far right, Claude Bizjak of the CLC emphasised the originality of this structure compared to other European countries. Photo: Guy Wolff/Maison Moderne

Supported by the Luxembourg Confederation of Commerce (CLC), the Luxembourg Retail Federation aims to bring together all the players in the retail sector active in Luxembourg. It was officially formed this week.

Retailers of all sizes, trade associations, shopping centres and sectoral trade federations can now join forces in the Luxembourg Retail Federation. It was officially constituted on Thursday 17 November, at the end of a one-day conference organised by the CLC and dedicated to the future of commerce, in the premises of the former H&M shop in Esch-sur-Alzette.

“I am delighted that from the outset we have members who represent the Luxembourg commercial fabric in its entirety and diversity, and I am convinced that other players will be added,” enthused , president of the organisation.

The organisation has 23 founding members, including retailers operating in both urban and suburban areas, as well as shopping centres (Belval Plaza, Cloche d’Or, City Concorde, Kirchberg Shopping Center, Noordstroos and Topaze Shopping) and the commercial unions of Luxembourg City and Esch-sur-Alzette.

Five priority areas for the LRF

The Federation of Food and Distribution (Flad), Fashion (Femo) and the one dedicated to furniture shops have also joined the new structure, whose priority areas are the image of commerce, exchanges between traders, training, innovation and new trends with the flexibilisation of work.

“The current rules on Sunday work are complicated,” commented Goeres. Employees can only work a maximum of four hours per Sunday, which is not without its problems for retailers. “Commerce is the only sector to be faced with such restrictions on Sunday work, which does not exist in industry or in services,” he insisted.

The president of the new organisation also pointed out that “I have been a member of the CLC for 25 years, I sit on its board of directors but always in the ‘miscellaneous’ category. I look forward to carrying our voice in the years to come.”

It is a federation that does not exist in this form in other countries.
Claude Bizjak

Claude Bizjakdeputy directorCLC

This was a way for the man who is also the owner of a watchmaking company to set the record straight against , the director of the CLC, who nevertheless remained smiling. The CLC has decided to cover the launch costs of this new federation.

“This is a federation that does not exist in this form in other countries,” said Claude Bizjak, deputy director of the CLC, given the diversity of its members.

The Luxembourg Retail Federation is already ready to expand its ranks and work on its priorities.

This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.