C&A

C&A is a multinational chain of retail clothing stores that originated in the Netherlands. It now has European head offices in Vilvoorde, Belgium, and Düsseldorf, Germany. The company operates approximately 1,250 stores in Europe and 330 in Brazil, as well as websites for online shopping. In Brazil, C&A is operated through a joint venture, C&A Modas S.A., which is listed on the B3 stock exchange in São Paulo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It also licenses the C&A name for stores in Mexico and China, which are under different ownership.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Foundation

The Brenninkmeyer family had traded in linen and textiles since the 17th century from Mettingen, Germany. In 1841, a Dutch textile firm was founded in Sneek by brothers Clemens and August Brenninkmeijer, later taking its company name from the initials of the founders. The family was very secretive, in part to avoid customs scrutiny, and upon reaching age 14, male members of the family were given the choice of working for C&A or joining the Catholic priesthood. In 1906, Clemens' son, Bernard Joseph, started operating in Amsterdam. By 1910, there were ten C&A stores in the Netherlands.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1974, C&A was one of the sponsors of the 1974 FIFA World Cup. In 1978, C&A sponsored cycling through Eddy Merckx's team, taking over from Fiat France.Template:Cn

Development since 2000

In June 2000, C&A announced its withdrawal from the British market, where it had been operating since 1922, had 109 stores,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=sadtale>Template:Cite news</ref> and had used the name C&A Modes.<ref>C&A Modes Part I: Getting Established buildingourpast.com, 3 January 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2023</ref><ref>Remember C&A? The fashion giant known for low prices that was a town centre staple TeessideLive, 24 October 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2023</ref><ref>The C&A UK Marketing Archive: ‘Where the mode of the moment costs less than elsewhere’ www.hatads.org.uk. Retrieved 19 December 2023</ref><ref>Lost fashion giant 'famous' for low prices where 'everyone used to go' Liverpool Echo, 23 October 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2023</ref><ref>Lost Edinburgh: C&A Modes Fire The Scotsman, 23 April 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2023</ref><ref>Case: Moore v C&A Modes [1981] IRLR 71 lawjournals.co.uk, May 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2023</ref> The last UK retail stores closed in 2001.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Primark bought six C&A stores.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At the same time, C&A closed its two Irish stores, in Dublin and Belfast.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In June 2009, C&A withdrew from the Argentinian market.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In the summer of 2010, Beyoncé released a clothing line, House of Deréon, in cooperation with C&A.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In February 2020, Grupo Axo agreed to buy C&A Mexico,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but cancelled the contract in March 2021. In June 2023 C&A Mexico was sold to Grupo Alfar, owner of the Mexican Cuidado con el Perro stores.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 20 August 2020, C&A sold C&A China to Zhongke Tongrong Private Equity to operate the stores via franchising.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

In 2021 and 2022, the company closed 70 stores and stated the goal of having half of its sales come from online channels by 2026.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In March 2022, the company shut its Canda brand, which produced formalwear, due to the decline in sales as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In June 2022, C&A began selling clothing via Amazon.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Also in July 2022, it was discovered that C&A's Serbian division was the victim of customs fraud on the import of goods from China. The unpaid duties led to the Serbian division filing bankruptcy and closing its 14 stores.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Corporate affairs

Ownership

The company name is derived from the initials of its founders, Clemens (1818–1902) and August (1819–1892) Brenninkmeijer. The Brenninkmeijer family owns C&A through a Swiss firm named COFRA Holding AG. The company's success has led the Brenninkmeijer family to be ranked among the wealthiest in the Netherlands, but most members of the family actually live in Geneva and Zug, Switzerland.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Brands

C&A's brands, under which several of its goods are sold, include Angelo Litrico, Avanti, Clockhouse, Here+There, Palomino, Rodeo, Westbury, Yessica, Yessica Pure, and Your Sixth Sense.

Criticism

In December 2021, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights filed a criminal complaint in a Dutch court against C&A and other brands, including Lidl and Hugo Boss, alleging that they benefited from and were complicit in the use of forced labour by Uyghurs in Xinjiang.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Locations

File:Sneek9.JPG

C&A in Sneek, Netherlands, where the company was founded.

File:Hochhäuser Berlin.JPG

C&A in Berlin, Germany, with the Swissôtel Berlin in the same building.

File:Loja C&A Uberaba.jpg

C&A store at a mall in Uberaba, Brazil.

As of 2025, C&A had stores in the following countries:<ref name=owned-store-count>Template:Cite web.</ref>

Country	No. of stores	As of
Austria	89	July 2025	<ref name=owned-store-count/>
Belgium	96	July 2025	<ref name=owned-store-count/>
Brazil	330	December 2023	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
China	23	May 2023	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Croatia	26	July 2025	<ref name=owned-store-count/>
Czechia	40	July 2025	<ref name=owned-store-count/>
France	136	July 2025	<ref name=owned-store-count/>
Germany	381	July 2025	<ref name=owned-store-count/>
Hungary	32	July 2025	<ref name=owned-store-count/>
Italy	10	July 2025	<ref name=owned-store-count/>
Luxembourg	7	July 2025	<ref name=owned-store-count/>
Mexico	89	July 2025	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Netherlands	95	July 2025	<ref name=owned-store-count/>
Poland	51	July 2025	<ref name=owned-store-count/>
Portugal	24	July 2025	<ref name=owned-store-count/>
Romania	56	July 2025	<ref name=owned-store-count/>
Slovakia	14	July 2025	<ref name=owned-store-count/>
Slovenia	15	July 2025	<ref name=owned-store-count/>
Spain	73	July 2025	<ref name=owned-store-count/>
Switzerland	93	July 2025	<ref name=owned-store-count/>
Total	1690

Stores

In Spain, C&A reduced its footprint over time. In 2017 it closed 23 stores as part of a restructuring.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In June 2023 the company announced the closure of five additional stores.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the 2023–24 financial year, the chain reported 80 points of sale in Spain. By mid-2025, its website listed 73.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In May and June 2017, the company closed four stores in the Netherlands due to poor sales.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In France, C&A announced several rounds of closures. In April 2019 it planned to close 14 stores,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> followed in January 2020 by plans for 30 additional closures.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Paris flagships on Boulevard Haussmann and Rue de Rivoli later closed, with the process completed in February 2023.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In March 2025 the company announced a plan to close 24 stores and 57 shop-in-shops (inside hypermarkets).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In popular culture

• The Specials referenced C&A in "Man at C&A" on the 1980 album More Specials. The phrase "Man at C&A" was later used to typify someone who was unfashionable.<ref name=sadtale/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=muchloved/>
• In an episode of the sitcom Only Fools and Horses, Del Boy tells his brother Rodney that when they become millionaires, their clothes will "come from Man at C&A".<ref name=muchloved>Template:Cite news</ref>
• The Belle and Sebastian song "Expectations" features a character who is given the choice between working at Debenhams and C&A "cause that's what they expect".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• In Chapter 12 of the novel Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis, where a character at a crowded dance says "Can't we go and sit down for a bit? This is a bit too much like a C. and A. sale for me".

External links

• Template:Official website