The market trajectory is obvious, concedes Steven Timmermans, co-owner of the family business Alfa Fish, on the sidelines of the Gondola Foodservice Congress where he was a speaker. "But we see a real opportunity in it."

The Belgian restaurant chain has launched a rare campaign: upon presentation of a fuel receipt, customers will now receive a discount on their meal. "A small gesture, but a clear signal," stated Sabine Vanderveken, the CEO of Lunch Garden, during the Gondola Foodservice Congress, which had the specific theme: "Stop guessing. Think like the Guest."

INTERVIEW - Behind the image of a mastered fast-good concept, the small chain of poke bars Tadao has not escaped the very real tensions of the Horeca sector. But its founder readily shares how he learned to cope. An experience with the flavor of skills development.

INTERVIEW - The federal government is attacking a national monument. By mandating the radical warning "alcohol harms," decision-makers are sweeping away the nuance between moderate enjoyment and abuse, denounces the General Manager of Vinum Et Spiritus. The sector federation regrets this tightening "without an in-depth evaluation," which goes against the proactive best practices of the stakeholders, and is concerned about the deleterious effects… on the financial health of ou

Intuition has its limits. Knowing where to set up shop starts with knowing where to look. To obtain the indicators that will make the difference, one must ask the right questions. Karolien Sottiaux, COO of Sirius Insight, confirms that commercial success begins with a rigorous diagnosis.

The federal government approved a proposal by Minister Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit) on Friday, enacting new restrictions on alcoholic beverages. These are scaled-back measures that will not come into force immediately.

By inaugurating their joint restaurant last month in Sint-Niklaas, the healthy restaurant chain and the sports center chain reached a milestone: ten establishments in just five years of fruitful collaboration.

INTERVIEW - During the Personality of the Year 2025 - 2026 (POTY) awards ceremony, four awards were presented this Thursday across various categories, along with a Lifetime Personality of the Year award presented to a figure who has made a significant impact on the retail and FMCG sector. Discover now our meeting with Sabine Sagaert, CEO of Ardo and winner in the Manufacturers Foodservice category.

POTY – During the Personality of the Year ceremony, which was held yesterday, a special award was presented to honor a remarkable entrepreneurial career. The Lifetime Personality of the Year award was bestowed upon Stefaan Bettens, CEO of Jet Import, for his entire professional journey and his lasting influence on the Belgian and Luxembourgish markets.

INTERVIEW - During the Personality of the Year 2025 - 2026 (POTY) awards ceremony, four awards were presented this Thursday across various categories, along with a Lifetime Award presented to a figure who has made a significant impact on the retail and FMCG sector. Discover our interview with Johan Vermeire, General Manager B2B Foodretail at Colruyt and winner in the Wholesalers Foodservice category.

INTERVIEW – How do you carve out a place in a crowded market where customers are conservative? With over a million annual visits across its twenty points of sale, Fritapapa has clearly found the recipe to "dust off the fry shop." Co-founder Julien Abras presents his ingredients – a blend of digital agility and respect for the geography of tastes – to anchor the brand in our cravings for a good cone of fries.

The port city has been chosen to host the very first edition of the Benelux Sushi Cup on April 1st. Sushi chefs will compete in this official elimination round to reach the international final of the prestigious World Sushi Cup in Tokyo.

POTY - The Denys sisters lead Delino as a duo, through family leadership close to the field that limits the gap between strategy and operational reality.

POTY - Johan Vermeire leads Colruyt Group’s B2B division following a clear horizon line, preferring relevance to exhaustiveness in a sector where the offering can quickly become oversized.

POTY – With her background as an agricultural engineer and her tenure at Cargill, the CEO of Ardo views the transformation of agriculture as more than just a stance.

POTY – When he took over the family business Jet Import, one of his commercial decisions would define his entire professional trajectory.

INTERVIEW – Former marketing director of McDonald's France, he took over a Belgian company emerging from crisis in mid-December. With prospects of regained profitability starting this year, Exki's new CEO has his work cut out for him. But even in the heart of a particularly competitive market, Xavier Royaux displays a communicative optimism: "I have learned in the past to always be glad to have strong competitors."

The MR president has not shifted his stance on the budget process and categorically opposes any increase in Value Added Tax (VAT). At the next monitoring session scheduled for this month, the accounts will be approved as they stand, in their imperfect state according to him, before restarting "broad negotiations in the summer" where the government will need to find 4 billion euros.

To return to profitability, the Brussels institution is swapping ostentatious gastronomy for a high-end "bistronomy" concept. More accessible, more efficient, and better adapted to new consumer habits, the move – and the departure of its former Michelin-starred chef – is a central part of the financial recovery effort.

The Personality of the Year (POTY) award recognizes leaders who serve as role models for other industry players. This year, in the "Foodservice Wholesalers" category, Rodrick D'Hoore stands out for his corporate vision and his dedication to product quality.