Belgium is a land of gastronomy, as demonstrated by the countless fine food shops throughout the country. The country is therefore a prime target for artisans because of its geographical proximity and cultural affinities with France. This should result in a stronger Belgian presence at the next Gourmet Selection show.
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We don't know exactly how many delicatessens and fine food shops there are in Belgium. A surprising situation for a country where ‘eating well’ is an integral part of its cultural identity. One explanation for this situation is the growing number of associations, federations and other institutions representing franchisees, neighbourhood shops and self-service stores.

 

Credits: Fine food shop in Flandre region. - Gand.

Nevertheless, the French-speaking Belgian fine food market is a key market for Gourmet Selection, which welcomes dozens of buyers from the "flat country" every year. The Gourmet Selection teams visited a dozen Belgian delicatessens and fine food shops to evaluate their needs and find out more about their expectations.

The importance of fine food shops is underlined by Sébastien Billet, from the Brussels grocery shop Hop! : ‘Many of our products come from artisans for whom we are sometimes the only point of sale - and therefore their only outlet - in Belgium’, he says. Products from sustainable agriculture, short distribution circuits and authenticity are generally the values most favoured by the retailers questioned about their selection and purchasing habits.

 

Luxury, gift boxes and authenticity

Ultra-luxury is also well represented in Belgium. For example, the ‘Marché des Chefs’ grocery shop has been a reference since 1986 for chefs and consumers looking for the very best in gastronomy. Or the ‘Chez Rob’ grocery shop, which regularly organises tastings of exclusive products.

Gourmet Selection is an event with the potential to generate new product ideas and new brands that will attract Belgian consumers. Even though many Belgian fine food shops naturally want to showcase ‘made in Belgium’. This is the case, for example, of the gourmet store ‘Hop Brussels’ or the online site ‘Belmade’, which works with some sixty Belgian gastronomic creators.


Credits: Belmade
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Gift boxes are very popular. They can be found in the exotic grocery shop ‘Le tour du monde en epices’, the gourmet market ‘Chez Rob’ and the online site ‘Belmade’: ‘Our flagship product is the gift box, which includes savoury products, aperitifs, sweets, comfort foods, beers and wines. We advise our customers and work with them. We also deliver to companies so that they can offer thanks to their customers or their teams’, explains Stéphane Billet at Hop!.

The demand for French gastronomic expertise in Belgian fine food shops is strong. The Gourmet Selection teams met with Ludovic Thysebaert, owner of the 'Champ' grocery shop in Brussels. He says he already works with products from Gourmet Selection's partner, Ankorstore. The ‘Champ’ manager says he has already added 250 new products to his store, which now has 900...

As Sébastien Billets points out, ‘We started going to Gourmet Selection 2 years ago and we go back every year. We've tested a huge number of products. We're looking for good, beautiful products that reflect their creators and the artisans behind the brands.'

Our teams can't wait to meet the Belgian grocers and fine food grocers at the next edition of Gourmet Selection, which will take place on 21 and 22 September in Paris, Porte de Versailles!

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