Zeeman to close 150 stores across Europe as Chinese platforms Temu and Shein boost competition

Dutch clothing retailer Zeeman announced plans to shut roughly 150 stores in Europe by 2028, reducing its total outlet count by about four percent. The closures will affect locations in France, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Austria, while the chain concentrates on the Benelux region and selected German markets such as Berlin and North‑Rhine‑Westphalia.

The year‑2025 financial report showed a net loss of €12.5 million, more than double the loss a year earlier, despite a modest revenue rise to €818 million. Reorganisation costs linked to store shutdowns are pressuring results, and online sales account for only about 1 % of total turnover.

Zeeman attributes the deteriorating performance to intensified competition from Chinese e‑commerce platforms Temu and Shein, which offer low‑priced goods and operate under different sustainability and safety regulations. The retailer says the Chinese platforms’ rapid growth is eroding demand for its physical stores, prompting the strategic pull‑back from markets outside the Benelux.