Meal deals and combinations is the leading food category constituting the majority of market share by the number of menu items offered in restaurants, followed by the pasta & pizza and meat dishes categories, according to GlobalData’s menu intelligence database. According to GlobalData’s menu analysis of the meal deals and combinations category in Belgium report, the meal deals and combinations category constitutes a 42% share among all restaurant types in Belgium foodservice market. The report analyses 7,221 menu items from different foodservice outlets in Belgium and provides an overview of the food categories available across its foodservice channel. Buy the report here.

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Herbs, spices & seasonings was found to be the most-used ingredient in the meal deals and combinations category, featuring in 14% of menu items, followed by fish & seafood and cheese. Chicken and vegetables were also significant ingredients.

An analysis of the annual price change between 2023 and H1 2024 indicates that the average menu prices in the meal deals and combinations category have dropped by 24%. As on-premises dining gains momentum following the COVID-19 pandemic, the meal deals and combinations category in Belgium is expected to experience overall growth.

Different categories exhibited mixed price movements within Belgium foodservice market between 2023 and H1 2024. Food categories in Belgium witnessed price decrease in their food offerings in the mentioned timeline. Out of these, meal deals and combinations category saw highest price decline.

An in-depth analysis of the meal deals and combinations category price trend by location reveals consumption trends of each region. The graph below represents the change in meal deals and combinations category menu prices during 2022-2024 across the top five locations. As seen below, meal deals and combinations category menu items in Ghent(Belgium) became more affordable as compared to Liège and Charleroi(Belgium).

While consumers become more price conscious, operators look for ways to optimize their costs to retain margin and market share. In Belgium market, restaurants operators rely on innovation as a crucial tactic to appeal to customers as well as optimize costs. As increasing number of consumers seek novel experiences, foodservice operators must continuously innovate their menu choices, providing superior taste and quality along with a diverse selection of dishes. Operators should highlight the distinctive tastes and flavours of their food and beverage offerings in a convenient format to enhance customer engagement.

To further understand and explore GlobalData’s insight into Belgium category menu, buy the report here.

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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData’s Online Menu Intelligence is a database of cost and profit foodservice operators on menus within Foodservice Intelligence Center. The tool’s several search options, such as cuisine, category, menu item, ingredient, and restaurant, help users to conduct focused searches in terms of price analysis (average price and change in prices), menu item claims, popular categories, cuisine/ingredient penetration levels, etc.