The franchise shop of kitchen specialist Ixina on Provinciestraat in Antwerp has been declared bankrupt. This makes it already the third Ixina store in five years to close its doors, after previous bankruptcies in Lier (2020) and Kuurne (2022).
© Ixina
Customers who already paid an advance, like Nathalie Van den Berg, face uncertainty. "I paid 5,400 euros and already my old kitchen broke down. A fortnight ago, the delivery should have taken place, but I only got an e-mail saying the delivery was postponed due to 'external circumstances'. After that, I got no one on the line," she says.
Ixina has around 60 shops, all operated by independent franchisees. Each of these stores operates financially autonomously, making individual bankruptcies possible.
According to retail expert Gino Van Ossel (Vlerick Business School), increasing competition, especially from market leader IKEA, is pernicious for smaller players. "Family kitchen shops are gradually disappearing. Krëfel, too, stopped selling kitchens for this reason. Big chains like Dovy and Keukens De Abdij are investing heavily in brand awareness through media," he explains.
Isabelle Vermeir, general manager of Ixina, stresses that the brand itself is healthy. "Our turnover increased 10% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to last year," she says. A new shop will be built at the Antwerp location. Preparations have already started," she says. Vermeir assures customers that orders will be handled through another branch. "Another shop within the network will take over the order book as soon as the trustee gives permission."
Source: Gazet van Antwerpen