The Nationaal Petrol Onderzoek 2025 (Foodservice Alliance) highlights a sector in transition: fuel volumes are declining, EV adoption is rising, and foodservice sales at petrol stations are up 50% since 2020. Clean facilities, quality food, and safety now define success. Winners will transform into mobility and convenience hubs; losers will fall behind.
If you don’t want your petrol stations to look like this, empty, forgotten, and left behind, then this article is for you 🫵🏻.
Belgium’s 2025 Petrol Report (Foodservice Alliance) makes it clear: the sector is at a turning point.
Fuel volumes are declining, electrification is accelerating, and customer expectations are shifting dramatically. Petrol stations are no longer judged by their pumps alone but by the experience, foodservice, and service standards they deliver.
Across Europe, the warning signs are already visible. In Germany, the petrol station industry revenue has been declining by 3.7% annually, dropping to around €19.8 billion in 2025. If operators don’t adapt, the risk is clear: deserted stations, falling revenues, and lost relevance.
But there will also be winners. The ones who transform their forecourts into mobility hubs and retail destinations, with foodservice and customer experience at their core.
Petrol Stations Are No Longer Just About Fuel
The Belgian petrol station sector is changing dramatically. Once driven almost entirely by fuel volumes, the market is now shaped by:
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Electrification: Public charging points in Belgium grew by over 70% in 2023 alone, with fast-charging stations expanding even faster.
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Consumer expectations: Clean toilets, food quality, and safety now rate higher in customer surveys than pump prices.
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Foodservice growth: On-the-go food and drink sales at petrol stations rose more than 50% compared to pre-COVID levels, showing the station is firmly positioned as a foodservice channel.
And this is not just a Belgian phenomenon.
Across Europe, the classic petrol station model is under pressure: in Germany, industry revenue has declined by 3.7% annually in recent years, dropping to around €19.8 billion in 2025 (IBISWorld, 2025). Fuel volumes are shrinking, and the legacy model of relying on petrol sales is no longer sustainable.
This shift is pushing operators away from a volume-driven fuel model toward a value-driven service model.
Why Foodservice and Customer Experience Are the New Differentiators
The 2025 report reveals that Millennials and Gen Z are the most frequent petrol station visitors, but also the most critical. Nearly half of Gen Z rate their visit no higher than 7/10. Their expectations go beyond fuel:
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Hygiene and safety are non-negotiable.
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Affordable, quality food and drinks matter more than ever, but price perception remains a pain point.
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Consistency of service separates highway stations from local ones, with non-highway locations scoring better on friendliness and cleanliness.
In other words, petrol stations are judged less by pumps and more by people, food, and atmosphere.
👉 The Future of Petrol Stations Depends on Your Frontline Teams
Winners and Losers in the European Market
Not all players are moving at the same pace:
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Q8 and Dats24 remain the strongest brands, but smaller regional players together account for over 25% of market share, showing how fragmented the market remains.
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Forward-thinking operators are turning stations into mobility hubs with EV charging, quality foodservice, and retail add-ons.
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Others remain stuck in the classic model of cheap fuel and basic shops, risking irrelevance as consumer behaviour shifts.
With European markets like Germany already showing clear revenue declines, Belgian operators that fail to adapt risk the same downward trend.
The Road Ahead: From Petrol Station to Mobility Hub
By 2035, half of Belgium’s car fleet will be electric, and 65% of station revenues will need to come from retail and services, not fuel. Stations that thrive will be those that:
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Combine charging infrastructure with hospitality and retail.
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Deliver clean, consistent, and safe environments.
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Invest in foodservice innovation, moving beyond impulse snacks to high-quality, grab-and-go concepts.
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Use data and digitalisation to personalise offers and strengthen loyalty.
The station of the future is not just a place to refuel or recharge, it’s a destination for convenience, food, and experience.
Customer Experience Starts With Your Teams
The future of petrol stations will not be decided by pump prices or charging speed alone. It will be defined by the quality of the customer experience, and that starts with people.
Staff who are well-trained, motivated, and supported will ensure:
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Hygiene and safety standards are consistently met.
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Foodservice quality is delivered at every location.
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Guests feel welcome, respected, and likely to return.
The winners of this transformation will be the operators who invest not only in new infrastructure and retail formats, but also in the frontline teams who bring the customer experience to life.
How? Discover our customers' stories and how brands from all over the world are empowering their own frontline teams to create a high-quality customer experience.