From the sewers of Anderlecht to the runways of Zaventem, passing through the market halls of Mabru, Beci goes out on the road to discover the hidden side of Brussels' economy. Next stop: Didden, a century-old business with a distinctly Belgian flavour.
To understand Brussels, you sometimes have to leave the office. With ‘Beci Drops By’, Beci sets out to meet its members who keep the Brussels economy alive. The idea? To see, listen, understand, and talk to the companies that keep the capital running, often long before dawn.
Beneath the city, Vivaqua
First stop of 2025: Vivaqua, in Anderlecht. Behind the capital's faucets, a colossal network watches over the water supply for nearly two million Brussels residents. Beci opened the doors to its polyester shell production plant, a first in Belgium. These shells, inserted into sewer pipes, extend their lifespan by 70 years, without the need for major construction or demolition.
Built during the Covid crisis, the factory is now running at full capacity. Around 30 employees produce up to nine shells per day, each one inspected with great care. Local production reduces transport, costs and carbon footprint. ‘This is a project that is responsible economically, operationally and environmentally,’ explains Laurence Bovy, Managing Director. Proof that in Brussels, innovation can also be found in the most hidden infrastructures.
At dawn, there's Mabru
Next, the Beci team has to get up a little earlier to head to the following destination: Brussels' Early Morning Market. Here, there's a lot of activity even before the sun rises. Carts, trucks, and voices cross paths on this 14-hectare site, where more than 130 companies supply thousands of professionals in hospitality, retail, and floristry each week. Fruit, vegetables, flowers, meat, fish... everything passes through Mabru before ending up on the city's market stalls.
Nothing goed to waste at the Early Morning Market. Every day, up to two tonnes of unsold goods are sorted and redistributed to charities via the Bourse aux dons. Waste, plastic, pallets and cardboard are recycled. The roof of the site is equipped with thousands of solar panels, and the non-profit organisation operates entirely without subsidies.
On the runways, Brussels Airport
In Zaventem, Beci met with the people behind Brussels Airport. From a distance, you mostly see planes but from up close, it's a city within a city. With 64,000 direct and indirect jobs and 357 companies on site, the airport is the country's second-biggest economic driver and accounts for 2% of the national GDP. However, its strength is also its challenge. How can Brussels continue to connect with the world while reducing its environmental impact? Since 2018, the airport has been carbon neutral and is aiming for net zero emissions by 2030.
However, this goal is complicated by fragmented regulations between regions and the federal government. ‘What we need is not subsidies, but a stable and coherent framework that enables sustainable development,’ admits CEO Arnaud Feist. For the time being, dialogue between regions remains fragile, which is something Brussels Airport deeply regrets.
Next stop: Didden, 100 years of Belgian flavour
In December, Beci Drops By will be making a stop at Didden. Founded in 1925, this Brussels-based family business specialises in sauces and preserves, and has made ‘made in Belgium’ its trademark... and its passport to the international market.
The American equation, however, has become more complicated. Since the increase in customs duties imposed under Donald Trump, exporting to the United States has become more expensive. ‘The net increase is around 24% once taxes and exchange rates are taken into account,’ explains Geneviève Roberti Lintermans, head of international development. Rather than compromising on quality, Didden has chosen to adapt its packaging, recipes and branding, while remaining true to its identity. This strategy illustrates the ability of Brussels companies to innovate without losing sight of their roots.
Seeing, listening, understanding
These visits show that the Brussels economy has thousands of faces. From drinking water to preserves, from airport runways to the market cobblestones, these immersions remind us that Brussels thrives thanks to passionate companies and the men and women who keep the capital running. That's what ‘Beci Drops By’ is all about: to see, to listen, and to understand the needs of its members.
Become a Beci member here.