Leussink Retail Group

"With Oneteam, we have a central information point via which we can easily communicate with the entire organization or different subgroups. Our communication has not only become more efficient and structured but also more advanced."
– Thijs Meijnen, HR Advisor at Leussink Retail Group

About Leussink Retail Group

Leussink Retail Group is a family-owned food and retail company with a wide variety of activities. The group runs 7 Jumbo supermarkets, 2 Etos drugstores, and 2 Gall & Gall liquor stores. In addition, they operate in hospitality with a restaurant and event company.

By combining strong franchise formulas with local involvement, Leussink has grown into an award-winning organization with more than 1,250 employees.

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The challenge

Before Oneteam, communication across the organization was fragmented and unprofessional. Updates were sent through WhatsApp groups or private emails, since frontline employees had no work email. That system quickly showed its flaws.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the weaknesses became painfully clear. Suddenly, communication was urgent and frequent, but there was no way to track who had received or read the messages. “During a crisis, that’s of vital importance, and we had no insight at all,” Thijs recalls.

Communication within branches was manageable, but across stores there was no consistent line. Department managers, often part of ten or more WhatsApp groups, were bombarded with messages at all hours. This constant stream made it impossible to maintain a healthy work-life balance and left many frustrated.

It was clear that Leussink needed a professional, secure, and central communication platform.

The solution

When looking for a solution, Leussink investigated several platforms and requested references from other companies in food retail. Oneteam stood out for two reasons.

First, the platform is built specifically for the food and retail industry, so it matches the realities of their workforce. Second, it is highly scalable and future-proof. Besides communication, it offers modules for onboarding, e-learning, and surveys, which could easily be added as the organization grew.

Today, all 1,250 employees use Oneteam. From stock fillers in Jumbo stores to waiting staff in the restaurant and office colleagues, everyone now connects in one place. The platform bridges the gap between desk and non-desk workers, making sure no one is left out.

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The approach

Rolling out Oneteam went much smoother than expected. Thijs had anticipated a long process, but it turned out to be quick and intuitive. “Implementing Oneteam felt like creating a Facebook account. It was super easy and we could get started right away.”

The HR team involved all department managers early by giving them access to a demo environment. This way, they became familiar with the platform before the launch. To encourage adoption among all employees, Leussink immediately used Oneteam for a popular initiative: the digital Christmas market, where staff could choose their Christmas packages. This gave everyone a reason to log in and explore the app from the start.

The results

With Oneteam, Leussink finally has one central information point. Communication is now more efficient, structured, and professional. Rich media like photos and videos are used much more often, making updates more engaging.

The improved communication has sparked collaboration across branches. Project teams now challenge each other to improve procedures, and the flow of information helps everyone feel more connected.

Engagement has grown significantly. Thijs shares the example of their supermarket in Goor, the most sustainable in the Benelux. “It was an insanely big project. During the renovation, we shared updates on the platform to keep people engaged. Just before the opening, we posted videos with tips on customer experience. Not long after, employees started sharing their own initiatives, like cooking pea soup for the team or posting pictures when the store was especially busy. These small actions made team cohesion skyrocket.”

The numbers confirm the success:

• 98.6% adoption rate
• 92% of employees active weekly
• 95% engagement rate in supermarkets

For Thijs, the link to customer experience is clear. “We don't have concrete figures showing whether Oneteam directly contributes to higher turnover. What I do know is that satisfied employees do everything they can to optimize the customer experience. And Oneteam helps us with that.”

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Looking ahead

Leussink plans to start using Oneteam’s survey module. This will provide a reliable, consistent way to measure employee satisfaction and guide future improvements.

“We see an adoption rate of 98.6%, for which we are truly satisfied. Furthermore, we noticed that 92% of our employees are active in the app every week.”