Highlights — TLDR

1. Innovative Concept in Student Hub: Bar Jan Cremer, established in 2013 in Ghent, was designed by Rudy Victor Ackaert as a daytime hangout for students, filling a gap in the Overpoort street area known for its vibrant student nightlife.

2. Early Adoption of Delivery Services: Acknowledging the rising trend in delivery services, Bar Jan Cremer ventured into this segment to cater to customers during inclement weather and to tap into the office delivery market.

3. Exploring New Delivery Offerings: With delivery channels contributing to 5-10% of sales, the bar plans to expand its delivery offerings with breakfast and brunch options, aiming to capitalize on growing market segments.

4. VAT Compliance and Efficiency with Deliverect: Deliverect was crucial in ensuring VAT compliance for online orders and providing clear sales reporting, enhancing operational transparency and kitchen efficiency.

5. Diverse Menu and Atmosphere: Beyond coffee, Bar Jan Cremer offers homemade cakes, desserts, bagels, and sandwiches, attracting a diverse clientele of students, locals, and tourists with its relaxed, casual beach-chair ambiance.

How Bar Jan Cremer stepped up the delivery game

Based in picturesque Ghent, Bar Jan Cremer has been serving coffee, hot drinks, and homemade snacks since 2013. With delivery channels growing in popularity, Owner Rudy Victor Ackaert contacted Deliverect to optimize his delivery operation.

Hang-out for students

Bar Jan Cremer isn’t Rudy Victor’s first business venture. Having set up one of Ghent’s most iconic nightclubs, Culture Club, and several other nightlife venues, Rudy Victor was ready for a new challenge. Initially, he was looking into the idea of a mobile coffee bar or truck - a quite innovative concept at the time. However, The lightbulb moment came when he realized the potential of the property that currently houses the bar.

“The Overpoort Street, known as the city’s student nightlife hub, is crowded in the evenings and at night until the early morning hours,” Rudy Victor says. “But I noticed no place for students to enjoy a drink during the day. The few cafés and bars around then didn’t have outdoor seating, which seemed like a big shortcoming. I wanted to create a cozy student hang-out, a fun and relaxing place to come together between and after classes.”

“Bar Jan Cremer jumped on the delivery bandwagon before it was cool - seeing the opportunity to serve customers even when the weather was a let-down.”

Growing delivery opportunities

Bar Jan Cremer jumped on the delivery bandwagon before it was fantastic - seeing the opportunity to serve customers even when the weather was a let-down (it is Belgium, after all) and to enter the office delivery segment. 

“Delivery channels account for around 5 to 10% of all our sales. Our terrace is still the show’s star, and we don’t expect - or intend - this to change in the future. However, we are looking into our delivery operation to see how to get the most out of it and stand out from competing businesses. Shortly, we want to start with a breakfast and brunch offering through delivery, a segment that I believe is rising. We often get big office orders at the moment, and we know there’s a peak when it’s raining. Our next step is proactively looking for new business by introducing the Jan Cremer breakfast, for instance.”

“Before Deliverect, I received monthly statements which mentioned VAT, but customers who ordered food online, didn’t get their VAT ticket. According to the law, I wasn’t compliant. Deliverect solved this issue and I don’t have to worry about this anymore.”

How Deliverect helped out with VAT compliance

In some countries, including Belgium, food businesses must work with an “anti-fraud” cash register with a fiscal add-on (the so-called black box), which registers all operations. Additionally, every customer served food must receive a valid VAT receipt. “For me, that was the main reason for signing up with Deliverect,” says Rudy Victor. Before Deliverect, I received monthly statements that mentioned VAT, but online orders weren’t sent to the cash register. Customers who ordered food online didn’t get their VAT ticket. According to the law, I wasn’t compliant. Deliverect solved this issue, and I don’t have to worry about this anymore.”

“What also drew me in was the sales reporting. It’s great to have such a clear overview of all delivery orders, and it’s much clearer for the kitchen what’s been ordered, no matter the channel. I haven’t gotten around to checking out the other features like the menu builder, but I soon will once we go live with our breakfast and brunch offer.”

More than just a coffee place

The bar is named after Jan Cremer, a significant Dutch author-painter - even in America - in the sixties, embodying the era’s “rock’ n’ roll” lifestyle. Ironically, it’s a name that nowadays doesn’t ring a bell with most rock’ n’ rolling students coming here for a latte.

But the Jan Cremer is much more than just another coffee place. You’ll find homemade cakes, desserts, bagels, and grilled and oven-baked sandwiches with tasty filling combinations on the menu. The bar’s relaxed atmosphere and casual feel, which is all about the beach chairs and sun umbrellas in summer, attracts students, locals, and tourists alike.