Q8 inaugurated its first "smart kitchen" at its Liège-Grétry station

In Belgium, customers can now order a wide range of freshly prepared dishes such as tacos, crispy chicken and loaded potato wedges at the service station, via an on-site kiosk or online.

© Q8

The very first "digital food market". The oil company Q8 inaugurated the first of five pilot sites at the Liège-Grétry service station to host a "smart kitchen" concept already developed with its partner Noahs in Denmark.

Customers can order a wide range of freshly prepared dishes, such as tacos, crispy chicken, and loaded potato wedges, via an on-site kiosk or online. Panos sandwiches and products from the Delhaize Shop & Go are also available. With this concept, Q8 aims to further expand its food offerings in its service station shops.

The concept, developed in collaboration with the Danish foodtech platform Noahs, represents a new step in the evolution of the oil company's network's shop and restaurant offerings. The service stations are also being adapted accordingly, with more space for consumption and dining.

Specifically, the Liège-Grétry station has been equipped with a new smart kitchen covering a mere 4.5 square meters. “We prepare premium versions of popular dishes there, such as tacos, crispy chicken, and ‘loaded crinkles’– crispy potato wedges with various toppings,” explains Sarah Pillen, shop & dealer performance manager at Q8 . “We can keep this kitchen compact thanks to simple and efficient recipes. The dishes are prepared on-site with fresh, daily ingredients.”

Delivery is possible via delivery platforms

The kitchen is also connected to a digital platform through which customers can order meals, either via a kiosk in the station or online through platforms such as Just Eat Takeaway.com , Uber Eats, or Deliveroo. Many products from the Delhaize Shop & Go, as well as a wide selection from the Panos range, including sandwiches and hot snacks, can also be ordered through this platform. "Everything is delivered to your home, office, or wherever you're on the go by bicycle couriers."

© Q8

Q8 expects this expanded offering to attract consumers at different times of the day. "Currently, mornings and lunchtimes are particularly busy, thanks to our strong partnerships with Delhaize and Panos. We also want to boost business in the evenings. With this additional offering of fresh meals and through digital platforms, we believe this is possible."

Food sales quadrupled

The concept has already proven successful for Q8 in Denmark. “There, 88 stations are already equipped with the Noahs platform. At sites with a smart kitchen, foodservice revenue quadrupled in the first six months,” says Sarah Pillen. “ Order value increased by 228%, and they attracted 80% new online customers. A huge success that exceeded all expectations. We are convinced that it will also be a real game changer in Belgium.”

The Belgian rollout of the concept begins with five pilot sites, including Liège-Grétry, Herstal, and soon Turnhout. Based on the evaluation, the concept is then expected to be expanded. " The technology and kitchen layout allow for relatively simple deployment across multiple sites," explains Sarah Pillen. It's worth noting that Q8 has over 480 service stations and a network of more than 120 Shop&Go convenience stores in Belgium, in partnership with Delhaize and Panos.

For the foodtech platform Noahs, this partnership with Q8 in Belgium and Luxembourg represents a significant step in its international expansion. "Q8 is an exceptional partner for us in Denmark, where we have implemented a concept that has truly transformed the food offering at service stations and opened the door to entirely new online customer segments," says Noahs CEO Daniel Baven .