The Netherlands-based company Hema is for sale. The owners since 2007, Lion Capital of London, acquired Hema from Maxeda for €1.1 billion and have tried to sell it several times since. In 2016, Hema had sales of €1.2 billion, up 4.9% and an operational profit of € 28.9 million, thanks mainly to improvements in the Netherlands, and growth in France, the UK and Spain. Hema which now operates over 700 stores in 7 countries, mostly in city centres, offers home goods, tableware, stationery, make-up some food as well as a selection of clothing. The format was created as a variety store in 1926 by the owners of De Bijenkorf department store, just as similar formats were being created in other countries by department stores.