Dutch family business behind Vögele relaunch

By

Shomara Roosblad

Published
Aug 30, 2017

Dutch entrepreneurial family Hes is behind the relaunch of Swiss fashion retailer Vögele in the Netherlands, according to an investigation by RTL Z.

The Dutch branch of Vögele had 95 stores in the Netherlands at the time of its bankruptcy in January of this year.
After years of declining sales in the Netherlands, Italian investment group Sempione Retail took over the Swiss company in 2016 for 52 million euros and decided to refocus on the most profitable markets for the chain: Switzerland, Austria, Hungary and Slovenia.

After the filing, 90 stores were sold to Dutch company Vidrea Retail for an undisclosed amount. Following an investigation conducted by RTL Z, it was discovered that Vidrea Retail is a company belonging to Phim Holding, belonging to Philippe Hes, son of Lex Hes, owner of fashion stores Zaza and Skooter.

Charles Vögele and his wife Agnes founded the fashion brand in 1955 in Switzerland. Vögele first entered the Dutch market in 1999.