Pieter-Jan Vandevelde now leads Solucious, the foodservice division of Colruyt

Since January 1, Pieter-Jan Vandevelde has held the position of Business Unit Manager. His mission is to consolidate Solucious recent acquisitions and to continue the company's expansion in the Horeca and Public & Health segments, as the division has just crossed the €330 million revenue mark.

© Gondola Foodservice

Solucious began 2026 with a change in leadership. With this appointment, the Colruyt Group intends to structure and accelerate the development of its foodservice activities, in a competitive but promising market environment.

New CEO Pieter-Jan Vandevelde, who took over seven days ago, is not entering unfamiliar territory. Having worked at Colruyt since 2021, he held positions related to corporate development and notably coordinated major acquisitions, including the purchase of the Smatch/Match brands. At the helm of Solucious, Culinoa, Valfrais, and Délidis (acquired in 2024), his mission is to consolidate this group and unlock its growth potential.

This mission comes at a pivotal moment for the company, which has experienced sustained growth during the last fiscal year, registering a 10% increase in volume and nearly 12% in revenue. With total revenue exceeding €330 million, representing a one-fifth increase compared to the previous year, the foodservice division is increasingly establishing itself as a major diversification pillar for Colruyt Group.

Pieter-Jan Vandevelde's priorities focus on strengthening existing positions in public and healthcare catering, continuing growth in the Horeca sector, and developing the B2B offering in a broad sense.

“For our hospitality clients, we want to make managing their business even simpler. We listen to their needs and respond with solutions that support their daily operations. Thanks to our Walloon regional partner Valfrais and the fresh produce specialist Délidis, we can meet local preferences and offer ultra-fresh products,” says the new head of the division.

In the Public & Health segment, Solucious relies in particular on Culinoa, which specializes in supporting large institutional kitchens. "We will continue to focus on growth by further easing the burden on clients, notably through the Culinoa smart kitchen platform. As a meal provider for nursing and care homes, Culinoa can also advise on menus or preparation methods adapted for the healthcare sector," emphasizes Pieter-Jan Vandevelde.

To support these business objectives, the logistics infrastructure will obviously need to keep pace. Currently, Solucious operates from seven hubs across Belgium (Oudenburg, Ghent, Bornem, Wommelgem, Lot, Gembloux, and Liège). But the new director confirmed that the construction of additional sites is planned to support the growing portfolio. "Depending on the number of new clients who choose Solucious, we will build new hubs," he explained.