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Private labeling: an opportunity to seize
INSIGHT – The rise of private labeling has long been viewed as a crisis phenomenon, expected to recede once price pressures subsided. The figures tell a different story. The Belgian foodservice industry, therefore, should develop private labeling rather than fight it.
May 272 min read


These two healthy trends are tightening the belt in the foodservice
INSIGHT – A real upheaval is already underway for the Belgian foodservice industry: the rise of "better-for-you" and GLP-1 treatments. These trends will have a significant impact on categories that have been very successful until now.
May 202 min read


"Non-alcoholic beer is a key opportunity," asserts AB InBev
INSIGHT – Everyone noted that the brewing giant had, for the first time since 2023, sold more beer over a single quarter. However, AB InBev's results reveal a profound transformation in consumption patterns.
May 133 min read


How a Belgian restaurant can become more profitable: Menu engineering
INSIGHT – The excitement surrounding the 2026 Michelin Guide has barely subsided, and Belgian restaurateurs are facing a less glamorous reality: the grind of accounting and making ends meet down to the last euro. In starred establishments as well as less sophisticated ones, profitability is achieved through meticulous planning. It's a reminder that while cooking is an art, its long-term success relies on science.
May 54 min read


Retail vs. Foodservice: The biggest risk in the market is the disappearance of the muddled middle
INSIGHT - Average has become a danger zone. Traditional restaurants and classic local shops are crumbling. Indecision regarding positioning and strategic inertia are ticking time bombs for the various players in the sector.
Apr 292 min read


Retail vs. Foodservice: The Battle for the Consumer’s Wallet
INSIGHT - The Belgian consumer has never been so solicited. And never have they been so free to choose where they spend their food euro. Mass retail and out-of-home dining are engaged in a true duel: who captures what, when, and at what price?
Apr 212 min read


Between Indifference and Impulse: The Reality and Potential of Food in Service Stations
INSIGHT - Who stops at the station shop, and to buy what? Behind limited footfall, Food & Beverage (F&B) in service stations reveals contrasting dynamics but also a major potential for transformation in the era of new habits.
Apr 143 min read


Franchising: One of the Most Effective Growth Levers
INSIGHT - The subject became inevitable following the recent Franchise Expo in Paris. Especially since this Thursday, April 2nd, the Gondola Foodservice Congress brings together the leaders of Lunch Garden, Foodmaker, and Fritàpapa, all driven by development through a network of franchisees. I n Belgium, the segments with the highest number of franchisees remain the classic Burger-Pizza duo, with the ranking dominated by McDonald's, Burger King, Quick, Pizza Hut, and Domino’
Mar 253 min read


Ratings & Reviews: A Restaurant's Online Reputation is Also an Indicator of Good Management
INSIGHT - In a hospitality sector with razor-thin margins, the reviews and ratings restaurants receive on the web go beyond a simple marketing tool: they are a full-fledged asset, an indicator of quality for customers but also of sound management for partners.
Mar 174 min read


Foodservice Congress 2026: Read Your Customers' Minds
On April 2nd, the Belgian out-of-home dining sector has a date with its future. Forget hearsay and rumors; the Gondola Foodservice Congress gives you access to actual consumer behaviors. “Stop Guessing” is much more than the event's slogan – it is a promise of performance.
Mar 172 min read


The Wholesaler’s Dilemma: Grow or Perish
INSIGHT – Dealing with unforgiving margins, the wholesale sector must protect itself from financial instability. Achieving critical mass – whether through external growth or lasting partnerships – is emerging as a shield: the pursuit of scale, purchasing optimization, and geographical consolidation are becoming the new performance standards.
Mar 112 min read


The Wholesaler's Paradox: Commercial Power but Financial Vulnerability
INSIGHT - If turnover is concentrated, financial robustness is even more so. Among the leaders in wholesale, only a handful display strong financial health.
Mar 32 min read


The burger-fries-cola combo reigns supreme, but the delivery is too expensive
INSIGHT - While the combination of fries, a hamburger, and a soda remains the best-selling home delivery option in Belgium, the euphoria of the Covid years has subsided. The reason? A decline in order frequency. Not due to weariness, but because of a significantly higher price barrier.
Feb 112 min read


“More than a software to open the market’s eyes, we are launching an industrial movement”
INTERVIEW - A third of Belgian food consumption happens out-of-home. Billions of euros, thousands of players, and yet... a near-total fog. Gondola Foodservice wants to put an end to this “collective blindness.” We sat down with Amaury Marescaux, founder of the technology platform that “connects the market”.
Feb 64 min read


Too expensive for Belgians, not enough for restaurant owners
INSIGHT - The price of a three-course meal for two has entered a new dimension. In seven years, it has risen from 61 to 80 euros, according to our data model (+30%). But while customers are wincing at their bills, restaurant managers are also grimacing at their accounts.
Feb 43 min read


Belgian restaurateurs have lessons to learn from the US
INSIGHT - Looking at America isn't about copying; it's about predicting. While the US model cannot be replicated here as-is, it remains the best radar for upcoming phenomena. An analysis of a near future already crossing the Atlantic, to understand how perceptions are evolving there and how to better monetize the offer here.
Jan 273 min read


Supermarkets open on Sundays are disrupting the foodservice
INSIGHT - The reflex of "expensive convenience purchases" is on its last legs. Sunday is becoming just another day for grocery shopping. By redefining the standard of consumption, supermarkets are disrupting the offerings and models of the foodservice industry.
Jan 213 min read


Hotels can no longer do without Food & Beverage
INSIGHT - With revenues under pressure, taxes rising, and customers more demanding, the traditional hotel model is reaching its limits. In this context, food and beverage is now taking on a central role in the business equation.
Jan 133 min read


The fast-food invasion in Brussels is not what it seems
INSIGHT - While fast food chains seem to have invaded the capital, the economic reality is more nuanced.
Jan 72 min read


Between service and returns: the real challenges for cafeterias in nursing homes
INSIGHT - As our aging population increasingly utilizes healthcare facilities, the status of the restaurant within those institutions is also changing, and that presents real opportunities.
Dec 16, 20252 min read
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