To launch your own coffee brand in Belgium, lock in compliance and supply first: register your entity (eenmanszaak or BV/SRL) in the KBO/BCE, activate a VAT number (coffee typically 6%), notify FAVV/AFSCA and implement HACCP for roasting/packing or verify your white‑label roaster’s approvals cover you. Source via EU importers or get an EORI if importing green coffee yourself through Antwerp; target repeatable profiles (espresso and filter) and agree on cupping scores, roast curves, and MOQs (50–300 kg/SKU; 2–6 week lead times). Labels must meet EU 1169/2011 and Belgian language rules: provide FR/NL (add DE if relevant), name of food, net weight (g), roast date, best‑before, lot/traceability, storage, business name/address (or importer), and origin if claimed; for organic, certify with BE‑BIO (e.g., Certisys/Integra) and use the EU leaf. Buy GTINs from GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg, choose 250 g/500 g/1 kg valve bags, and join Fost Plus (household) or Valipac (B2B) for packaging EPR. Price to margin: COGS per 250 g €3–€6; retail €8–€14 D2C (40–60% gross margin), wholesale at 30–40%. Launch D2C on Shopify/Shopware with Bancontact, SEPA, and Klarna via Mollie/Stripe; ship via bpost/DPD; test sell‑through in horeca via Metro/ISPC and independent grocers via distributors. Timeline: 8–12 weeks including BOIP trademark clearance, bag print (4–8 weeks), and shelf‑life validation (whole bean 9–12 months, ground 3–6).
