Intermarché in Anthée Prioritizes Inclusion

In Anthée, Belgium, Ronald Léonet recently opened an Intermarché supermarket designed for accessibility. Léonet envisioned the store after his wife contracted a severe bacterial infection, resulting in the loss of limbs and a hand. He wanted to create a space where she—and others with disabilities—could shop and work comfortably.

The new store features wide aisles, accessible checkout counters, and an innovative checkout system co-created with RASEC. This system allows wheelchair users to work as cashiers in an adapted space. Léonet currently employs two people with intellectual disabilities and two with physical disabilities, with a goal of reaching eight to ten employees with disabilities among a total staff of 45.

The store also includes features like a disability-alert app that signals a customer’s presence for prioritized service. While the project faced five years of permitting challenges, it now incorporates environmental features like solar panels and rainwater harvesting. Léonet hopes the store will set a precedent for inclusive infrastructure in Belgium.