Belgian horeca is a champion of density in Europe... but at what cost?

INSIGHT OF THE WEEK - Gondola Foodservice's analysis reveals a particularly tight network within the Belgian hospitality industry. This situation reflects high accessibility, encouraging customers to frequent establishments very frequently, but also generating intense competition.

Belgium boasts one of the densest hospitality networks in Europe. According to an analysis by Amaury Marescaux, CEO of Gondola Foodservice, there are an average of 1.18 hospitality establishments per km² in our country, compared to 1.08 in the Netherlands, 0.72 in France, and only 0.28 in Germany. This particularly tight network reflects the sector's high accessibility throughout the country.

In Brussels, density reaches new heights: 31.8 establishments per km², one of the highest rates among European capitals. This concentration reflects a deep-rooted culinary tradition, but it also highlights the extreme fragmentation of the Belgian market. A multitude of players compete for customers in a confined space, creating significant structural competition. As a result, margins are squeezed and the profitability of establishments often remains precarious, hampering the sector's overall performance.

One in two Belgians goes to a restaurant every month

Despite this competitive environment, consumer habits remain strong. According to data from Sirius Insight, a partner of Gondola Foodservice, 52% of Belgians report going to a restaurant at least once a month. This rate rises to 67% in Brussels, a gap of 15 points. Conversely, only 10% of Belgians say they never go to restaurants.

Fast food and traditional restaurants also retain a prominent place in people's habits: 55% of Belgians go to a chip shop at least once a month, a practice that is even more entrenched in Flanders, where one in four Flemings goes there every week. Fast food restaurants, meanwhile, attract 36% of the population each month, but are even more divisive: 26% of Belgians never go there.

Preferences reveal inequalities

Not all forms of catering appeal to the same audience. While visit frequency varies according to income or lifestyle, it's mainly chip shops and fast food restaurants that crystallize the contrasts.

Young adults are particularly present. Couples with children, often from households with above-average incomes, are more likely to frequent chip shops. Conversely, low-income households are overrepresented in fast-food restaurants.

As for seniors, who represent almost a quarter of the Belgian population, they are under-represented in both formats, but retain a marked affinity for traditional restaurants, demonstrating a more classic attachment to the table.

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This observation is part of a broader analysis to be discovered in the white paper The Financial Anatomy of Horeca in Belgium produced by Gondola Foodservice, available exclusively for our members. ✉️ Contact Amaury Marescaux to get access.