Unique restaurant concepts: put your business on the map

Going to a restaurant with friends or family is something that most people look forward to days in advance. So it's important to create an enjoyable, unique experience for your customers. Wondering how you can develop a unique restaurant concept to attract more customers? The chefs at La Lorraine Bakery Group are here to help.

Advantages of a distinctive restaurant concept

Flanders alone has over 63,000 hospitality businesses. That means almost every corner has a restaurant that is trying to lure the same customers to their business. The solution? Differentiate yourself from your competition by developing a unique restaurant concept that will make your customers choose you time and time again. The advantages of a unique restaurant concept:

Unique customer experience: an original concept creates an unforgettable experience. Your customers feel special and will want to come back to experience the unique atmosphere and memorable dining experience.
Word-of-mouth: satisfied customers like to share their unique experiences with friends and family, which leads to word-of-mouth marketing.
Media attention: innovative restaurant concepts often pique the interest of the media, especially if you send out a press release. This leads to free publicity in online newspapers and on social media, which can significantly increase brand awareness.

The biggest advantage? Consumers are often prepared to pay more for a unique food experience. This gives you the chance to achieve high margins and optimise your food cost percentage by focusing on unique service.

Unmissable trends in the restaurant industry

Trend 1: Shared dining

One of the biggest trends is shared dining, where various small dishes are ordered for sharing. The greatest benefit of this trend is that you can price each dish individually to optimise your food cost percentage, but keep your restaurant accessible to a wider group of people. That's why it's smart to assign different price categories to your small dishes. For example, budget-friendly Italian bread rolls like

schiacciatas and mini hamburgers. Luxury products are also essential for this restaurant concept, such as dry-aged steaks and sushi. Your customers can put together their own menu and have more to choose from to suit their tastes and budgets.

For this food concept, you don't even need to focus on food. Bars often offer this option on their menus, serving simple dishes like nachos, pizzas, Italian savoury snacks and bruschettas or mini snacks. Delicious with a summery cocktail or refreshing juice.

Can you use this concept from starters to dessert? Of course! Offer chocolate fondue with fresh strawberries and other sweet treats, a cheese board for sharing or even mini patisserie.

Trend 2: International influences

It's clear that our taste buds are global citizens. In the past, Italian, French, American and Thai cuisines ruled but these days we’re interested in flavours from the world over. One example is Japanese food, which is now a staple. Who doesn't like sushi or teriyaki chicken? Turkish cuisine has also seen a rise in popularity, with borek proving a hit. Other new flavours on the Flemish market? Korean BBQ, Greek mezze and Chinese ramen noodles.

Trend 3: Grab & go

Eating delicious food from the comfort of your own sofa is ever more popular. Previously, takeaway was the norm for typical fast foods like pizza, fries and hamburgers. But these days, people also like to enjoy a delicious and perhaps even luxurious meal from home. The reason for this? Consumers have less time for cooking and are more conscious of the need to eat healthy food. And what could be better than enjoying a steak dinner in your favourite chair while watching a good movie? This concept means you can shift your focus to food quality and away from training staff. Another win!

LLBG: your partner for a unique restaurant concept

Le goût et l’ambiance sont les pivots de la réussite de votre restaurant. L’ambiance, c’est entièrement de votre ressort, mais pour ce qui est des produits de qualité, vous pouvez compter sur la fiabilité d’un partenaire comme LLBG. Pains, pâtisseries, viennoiseries, snacks salés ou sucrés… Tout cela et bien plus se trouve dans notre large assortiment.

Conseil : Vous souhaitez parler de vos idées avec un professionnel ? N’hésitez pas à en parler avec un de nos représentants.

Get the catalogue

Make an appointment with a representative

How do you find a unique restaurant concept?

So, how do restaurant owners get these ingenious ideas? There are many ways:

Market research

market research consists of various steps, such as analysing your competition, surveying your target group and monitoring upcoming trends. Look for gaps in the market and take advantage of them. Remember, at one point, someone opened the very first sushi restaurant in Flanders.

Don't just look at food trends

a restaurant experience doesn't just revolve around food but also the atmosphere. For example, breakfast cafés that only serve cornflakes but where people can also play games. Or crab boil restaurants where your food arrives in a plastic bag and you eat your meal with gloves and a bib. With these concepts, it's about creating unforgettable memories.

Combine various trends

go into the city and try out the unique concepts of your competition. Discover what works for you and add a personal touch to create a truly unique concept. For example, combine two different concepts. Takeaway shared dinner? Not a bad idea.

Products to help develop your unique restaurant concept

Our products

3 strong brands, 1 contact person for your business