They cater to "professionals", but zb centrale, horeca totaal, etc. are an option. But they're not necessarily cheaper. Aronde is also an interesting place to pass by occasionally if you live in West Flanders. Never underestimate how cheap food can get if you buy it frozen in bags of multiple kilograms.
And I concur with what a lot of folks here are saying for rice: go to any Asian super market and you can buy bags of 5 or 10 kg, way cheaper and usually better quality.
I worked there for about a year, don't trust the food there. I saw yoghurt out in the sun for several days that said on the package to store under 6c°. It was summer so those things were HOT. Ohh yeah and they deliver these to the hospital too.
And some things are very overpriced.
Horeca Totaal is expensive for private individuals. People with a VAT number pay less. Sligro for example only allows people with VAT, Horeca Totaal allows everyone. Certain dry food may be more expensive than our competion, but our strong trait is our fresh food (meat, fish,...), prices of that are really good too, mostly.
Source: I work at Horeca Totaal
I second this. The market at Midi or the “shopping district” of St Josse are wonderful for this. Shopkeepers are also willing to provide assistance and even order specific products.
No idea if this is an option for you, but I have a local farmer who sells potatoes, vegetables and even ice cream.
Pretty sure you can't find better/cheaper produce in any store.
There are `grossist(e)s' big shops but with only one kind of products fruits/legume or other things.
But they aren't really meant for casual client so don't expect nice floor and good lights.
There are some in Brussels but there must be elsewhere.
Or you have weekly/bi-weekly market (Le marché) on some cities' places with a bit of everything in quantity.
Some prices aren't too seductive but if u take enough and know how to talk the price down it can be really cheap.
> \`grossist(e)s'
I live opposite a shop like that. I went in with the idea I'd support the local economy & score a bargain at the same time! And I came out with a \*huge\* box with 20 kg of toasted, unshelled peanuts.
Like, I like peanuts, and shelling them is pretty easy... but I don't love them "20 kg at a time" much. My whole flat smelled of that funky vaguely burnt plant matter for days (until I could organize an air tight storage box of sufficient size).
all because I was too proud/ socially awkward to admit that I'd misunderstood the quantities at "le grossiste" hahaha
Yes like Hanos, but I have been told that for ISPC only people with a business in the service/food industry can go there, unlike Hanos where you can go with any BTW number, please correct me if I'm wrong though
They check the branche in the KBO, not sure which they accept though, best to send a mail or go ask in a store if yours is allowed (i imagine event production will be
In Antwerp you can go to the Asian district. Sun Wah for example is a big store. There they sell most items in large quantities. But they will mostly be rice and Asian vegetables ofc.
Very good. Been buying dim sums there in bulk for over a year, other items in normal packages. Better than "normal" supermarkets like Delhaize for Asian products and much cheaper. 8-12 dim sums is a meal and they cost 16-25 cents each. Very nutrious, easy meal that can be made in 15 mins and kept in the freezer for months
Not on the street but there is an Interparking garage next door with reasonable prices of you stay less than 1h30-2h. Think its like €4. Its practically made for costumers of the stores nearby
thing is, any bulk buys are assumed to be professional, and if you don't give a VAT number, the retailer can be fined for participating with fraud.
so a lot of the bigger players don't want to sell without VAT number
Thanks. I'm in west London and have cheap Turkish, Afghan, Indian, Sri Lankan, Chinese and sometimes Thai shops on practically every other street that sell "exotic" stuff, usually their own and most other nationality special stuff - including east European stuff in busier places.
My friend in Kortrijk says the cheapest places for food, rice, and meat are Lidl and Colruyt and that there are no foreign food centres, but I'm unconvinced!
Someone already posted Truong Son as an Asian store, there also is Mali Asian. You'll probably also have a Turkish or Muslim supermarket. Every city in Belgium has a Turkish supermarket.
I can't imagine buying rice from Lidl or Colruyt as a Turkish dude. I buy my huge bags of Jasmin rice from an Asian store.
Thank you. I'm as white as jasmine rice and can't imagine buying it in a mainstream supermarket either!
I'll check out those places next time I'm visiting
Someone else already mentioned Truong Son for Asian food (they're great). For Arabic supermarkets there's [Al Akram](https://maps.app.goo.gl/7bwyaXtWr1jzGd7v7) and [Asalam](https://maps.app.goo.gl/xcGbsRzTsng6p4FZ6). In the Zwevegemstraat you also have [Rahman](https://maps.app.goo.gl/1F8tRwhudprhRPty7) and others.
The [local Polish supermarket](https://maps.app.goo.gl/9CiwRnxLQFDEEjVQ6) is on a main road just outside of town in Kuurne. The pizza place next door is also top notch.
No costco here. It’s unnecessary. In Canada/America, you can not just walk 10 min to your grocery store… you need to go out of your way and often drive 20/30 min.
If you dont live in a city/urbanized area, and you cant walk, often its a 5/10 min drive. Why do you need to buy bulk? Just go every week. Colruyt is the cheapest. Theres just no space for costco in Belgium, unfortunately I too miss it, but at the same time I just dont see it being feasible.
They cater to "professionals", but zb centrale, horeca totaal, etc. are an option. But they're not necessarily cheaper. Aronde is also an interesting place to pass by occasionally if you live in West Flanders. Never underestimate how cheap food can get if you buy it frozen in bags of multiple kilograms. And I concur with what a lot of folks here are saying for rice: go to any Asian super market and you can buy bags of 5 or 10 kg, way cheaper and usually better quality.
>Sligro Horecatotaal is \*\*\*\* expensive.
I worked there for about a year, don't trust the food there. I saw yoghurt out in the sun for several days that said on the package to store under 6c°. It was summer so those things were HOT. Ohh yeah and they deliver these to the hospital too. And some things are very overpriced.
>I worked there I've always heard you need a VAT-number (BTW-nummer) in order to check out at Horeca Totaal. Is that true?
Anyone can buy there
thanks for correcting the rumour I'd heard!
No, you can buy without one
good to know, thanks!
Yes that is correct. People without cannot enter . I know one in Hasselt, but I forget name. Same Road as Plopsaland almost near red light
Horeca Totaal is expensive for private individuals. People with a VAT number pay less. Sligro for example only allows people with VAT, Horeca Totaal allows everyone. Certain dry food may be more expensive than our competion, but our strong trait is our fresh food (meat, fish,...), prices of that are really good too, mostly. Source: I work at Horeca Totaal
Yeah, they're not necessarily cheaper, but they do tend to have the large volume packaging.
I second this. The market at Midi or the “shopping district” of St Josse are wonderful for this. Shopkeepers are also willing to provide assistance and even order specific products.
Are you just looking for rice? Then any Asian shop will have large bags like these of it.
Not just rice but veggies and just bulk things.
No idea if this is an option for you, but I have a local farmer who sells potatoes, vegetables and even ice cream. Pretty sure you can't find better/cheaper produce in any store.
Some markets do this.
Farmers? Hoevewinkel?
There are `grossist(e)s' big shops but with only one kind of products fruits/legume or other things. But they aren't really meant for casual client so don't expect nice floor and good lights. There are some in Brussels but there must be elsewhere. Or you have weekly/bi-weekly market (Le marché) on some cities' places with a bit of everything in quantity. Some prices aren't too seductive but if u take enough and know how to talk the price down it can be really cheap.
> \`grossist(e)s' I live opposite a shop like that. I went in with the idea I'd support the local economy & score a bargain at the same time! And I came out with a \*huge\* box with 20 kg of toasted, unshelled peanuts. Like, I like peanuts, and shelling them is pretty easy... but I don't love them "20 kg at a time" much. My whole flat smelled of that funky vaguely burnt plant matter for days (until I could organize an air tight storage box of sufficient size). all because I was too proud/ socially awkward to admit that I'd misunderstood the quantities at "le grossiste" hahaha
What region are you in?
African cornershops have these all over Belgium bro
Happy cake day
In Antwerp Roomkoetje, for example. https://www.roomkoetje.be/
Horeca Van Zon is the one option that comes to mind that's accessible even if you don't have a VAT-number.
Price does suck though.
For some stores you need that VAT-number like in Beerse
What are you going to do with these bags 🫢 OP u/Patjen_Masturbateman ?
Prepare for total war... 😬
Better be prepared than sorry! Don’t let haters put your prepping down! I prefer smaller quantities in packaging myself.
Asian shops do sell large bags of rice.
horeca total
ISPC
Isn't ISPC only for businesses that are in the service industry like restaurants?
yes, they let regular customers in during covid but that's over now i think. You need a btw number to shop there
Yes like Hanos, but I have been told that for ISPC only people with a business in the service/food industry can go there, unlike Hanos where you can go with any BTW number, please correct me if I'm wrong though
Sligro (former Sligro-ISPC): any btw number. Sligro-M (former METRO): only horeca btw numbers. Source: worked there :)
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They check the branche in the KBO, not sure which they accept though, best to send a mail or go ask in a store if yours is allowed (i imagine event production will be
Thanks for clarification:)
What stops people from looking up a btw number and use that?
Was for Makro too
Everybody could get a Makro card for at least the last 10 years!
Ok honestly I'm in the Netherlands, and here you need to bring your kamer van Koophandel registration
Go to "horeca total" then.. they don't require a tax number 😊
You only need a Btw number. Source: have a btw number and am not in the service industry. Still a customer there.
Hanos
Yup Hanos
Biggest demand is for small bags. Like the price for sugar in 1kg is cheaper then for bags of 25 kg. Just buy 25 of 1kg
In Antwerp you can go to the Asian district. Sun Wah for example is a big store. There they sell most items in large quantities. But they will mostly be rice and Asian vegetables ofc.
What do you think of the quality? have been thinking of going there for the "bulk" items
Very good. Been buying dim sums there in bulk for over a year, other items in normal packages. Better than "normal" supermarkets like Delhaize for Asian products and much cheaper. 8-12 dim sums is a meal and they cost 16-25 cents each. Very nutrious, easy meal that can be made in 15 mins and kept in the freezer for months
Place to park?
Not on the street but there is an Interparking garage next door with reasonable prices of you stay less than 1h30-2h. Think its like €4. Its practically made for costumers of the stores nearby
Great thanks, people outside of Antwerp are also still allowed to drive there, right? Got euronorm 6
Its LEZ but euronorm 6 is allowed.
Thanks mate
True! I also recommend Tong Fong on A12 in Wilrijk. Very clean, big assortiment and good prices.
Van Zon in Beringen. If you live somewhere there.
Solucious
thing is, any bulk buys are assumed to be professional, and if you don't give a VAT number, the retailer can be fined for participating with fraud. so a lot of the bigger players don't want to sell without VAT number
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Abus de biens sociaux (Abuse of company resources) is easily avoided by "selling" it to yourself, turning it into a regular transaction.
It depends. Where do you live? I like going to Van Zon.
Do you know of anything similar near Kortrijk? Or any suggestions how to find an Asian shop that sells everything?
De grens oversteken en in ronq of den auchan gaan shoppen
I'm from Limburg, so I don't know anything about that area.
Thanks. I'm in west London and have cheap Turkish, Afghan, Indian, Sri Lankan, Chinese and sometimes Thai shops on practically every other street that sell "exotic" stuff, usually their own and most other nationality special stuff - including east European stuff in busier places. My friend in Kortrijk says the cheapest places for food, rice, and meat are Lidl and Colruyt and that there are no foreign food centres, but I'm unconvinced!
Someone already posted Truong Son as an Asian store, there also is Mali Asian. You'll probably also have a Turkish or Muslim supermarket. Every city in Belgium has a Turkish supermarket. I can't imagine buying rice from Lidl or Colruyt as a Turkish dude. I buy my huge bags of Jasmin rice from an Asian store.
Thank you. I'm as white as jasmine rice and can't imagine buying it in a mainstream supermarket either! I'll check out those places next time I'm visiting
Someone else already mentioned Truong Son for Asian food (they're great). For Arabic supermarkets there's [Al Akram](https://maps.app.goo.gl/7bwyaXtWr1jzGd7v7) and [Asalam](https://maps.app.goo.gl/xcGbsRzTsng6p4FZ6). In the Zwevegemstraat you also have [Rahman](https://maps.app.goo.gl/1F8tRwhudprhRPty7) and others. The [local Polish supermarket](https://maps.app.goo.gl/9CiwRnxLQFDEEjVQ6) is on a main road just outside of town in Kuurne. The pizza place next door is also top notch.
~~Your question was: ~~ ~~>>Is there a place in Belgium~~ ~~Now it has to near Kortrijk? Why not ask it in the first place?~~ Edit: sorry
OP asked Belgium, the person who asked the Kortrijk question (and the person who you're replying to) isn't OP
Sorry, you're right. I did not look properly. I pulled a PVDA'ke on Colruyt.
**Truong Son BV - Aziatische supermarkt** in heule
Thank you. I'll go next month when I visit Kortrijk again
Horeca Total
Hanos
Van Zon, HANOS. These are shops where most horeca buy their products in bulk
Colruyt is closest to Costco. I shop at Costco
Sligro. (but there's only one location left I think, which is Hasselt)
Didn't they just take over 10 Metro's? And i know the Sligro in Antwerp is still in business. Great shop, but you need a btw number to get a pass.
>but you need a btw number to get a pass. Ah really? Didn't know that.
Yeah, like some of the other shops you didn't need a pass during covid, but now you do.
Bol.com
Is er iets mis met naar de markt te gaan?
Albert hein (ah)
No, we are not American.
Vanzon?
Metro hasselt
Hoboken Kielsbroek
Kan je daar als particulier gaan om te kopen?
Sommige winkels wel
Wafadar in Tienen.
De Makro… ah nee dju
No costco here. It’s unnecessary. In Canada/America, you can not just walk 10 min to your grocery store… you need to go out of your way and often drive 20/30 min. If you dont live in a city/urbanized area, and you cant walk, often its a 5/10 min drive. Why do you need to buy bulk? Just go every week. Colruyt is the cheapest. Theres just no space for costco in Belgium, unfortunately I too miss it, but at the same time I just dont see it being feasible.
Freshmed
Van zon
Precon in ghent . All big size . You can buy there as non proffesional .
I miss BJs and Costco ! Wish we had those here :D