About Retail-Index. Retail-Index is a specialist supplier of management information on consumer retail markets, provided by Veraart Research Group in the Netherlands.
The food retail market has been dominated by the 'big four' supermarkets – Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons – which made up more than three quarters of sector market share in 2010. Tesco is the largest retailer in Great Britain, with a market share of 28.5% at the start of 2025.
Lidl Belgium is the first supermarket in the country to introduce a combination of 60% beef and 40% vegetable proteins in a plant-based minced beef mix.
The consumers' organisation Test-Aankoop says that Colruyt remains Belgium's cheapest supermarket though rival Albert Heijn is hot on Colruyt's heels. The margin by which Colruyt is cheaper than its rivals is getting smaller.
NETHERLANDS: Dutch Supermarket Tour w/Prices | May 2025
Does Belgium have Aldi?
As a discounter, ALDI guarantees the purchasing power of Belgian households with our low ALDI prices and now also with a nice extra." ALDI is also launching its loyalty program in all Belgian stores this summer.
The Schwarz Group is the biggest supermarket in Europe, with an annual revenue of €172.24 billion in 2023. Headquartered in Neckarsulm, Germany, the Schwarz Group operates two major supermarket brands: Lidl and Kaufland. With over 12,600 stores across 32 countries in Europe, the group has a significant market presence.
The parent company of Lidl, Schwarz Group, has remained the biggest European grocery retailer by a significant margin with 2022 revenues topping 154 billion euros. Aldi (Nord and Sud) figures are yet to be released, but it remains unlikely that the company will reach its main competitor.
Supermarket brands are cheaper in Belgium, regular brands more expensive. Branded products were more expensive in Belgian supermarkets in 2022 than in neighbouring countries, according to a study commissioned by Economy minister Pierre-Yves Dermagne. Own brands, managed by the supermarkets, were cheaper in Belgium.
Belgian food federation Fevia identifies “the higher gross operating margin of Belgian retailers” as one of the factors driving up Belgian prices. The government also has a role to play, by creating a level playing field in terms of costs and flexibility, Fevia believes.
Moules-frites/Mosselen met friet: mussels cooked or steamed with onions and celery served with Belgian fries. The recipe has often been referred to as the country's national dish, but is also popular in the neighboring Nord region of France.
1. Walmart. Walmart is the world's largest retailer with a revenue of about $573 billion. The company operates more than 11,500 stores in different formats in several countries.
Belgium might be known for its medieval towns and mouthwatering chocolates, but its shopping scene is equally delightful. Whether you're wandering through Bruges' cobbled streets or browsing boutiques in Brussels, there's no shortage of authentic finds to bring home.
In a comparison of own brands Lidl is the cheapest followed by Aldi. Colruyt shops near Albert Heijn are 22% more expensive than Lidl, Carrefour Hypermarkets are 39% dearer, while the figure for Delhaize is 52% more expensive than Lidl.
In 1961, the Albrecht Family founded the world's first discount grocery store in Germany. 16 years later in 1976, we opened our first ALDI store in Iowa. Today, with our ALDI headquarters in Batavia, Illinois, we have grown to more than 2,400 stores across 38 states with more than 45,000 employees.
Delhaize/AD Delhaize: The largest Belgian chain operates around 350 supermarkets across the country, as well as a few hypermarkets. Delhaize also operates the Food Lion stores in the US. Colruyt: Generally one of the more affordable Belgian supermarkets, Colruyt has over 200 stores across the country.
Bontinck argued that Belgium's automatic wage indexation is the main cause of this. In the past two years wages in the hospitality sector have gone up almost 15%. The cost of energy has also forced bar, restaurant and cafe owners to put up prices.
The country is known to be expensive, but fear not. From delicious street food to lively breweries and pubs, affordable train passes and free museums, you can experience the best of Belgium without breaking the bank. Here are our top money-saving tips, along with a guide to daily costs.
Waitrose continued to be the most expensive supermarket, with an average price of £242.91 for the 100-item basket – £57.08, or 31%, more expensive than Aldi.
Lidl was founded by Josef Schwarz, a German businessman who focused on opening grocery stores in his home country, and the chain didn't expand into more of Europe until 1977. Aldi, on the other hand, was founded by German brothers Theo and Karl Albrecht, who quickly expanded their grocery chain across the globe.
He moved to Memphis from Montgomery County and worked in a grocery warehouse. He worked hard and saved his money. Then, on September 11, 1916, in Memphis, he opened the first supermarket in the world, Piggly Wiggly.
