Marc Coucke invests in rib chain Amadeus, plans annual expansion

Belgian entrepreneur Marc Coucke is investing in the well-known rib restaurant chain Amadeus through his investment company Alychlo. The deal secures a majority stake for Alychlo, while the current owners, Marie Thevelin and Peter Dobbelaere, will continue to manage the business.

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Everyone in this country has been to Amadeus at some point.

Amadeus, established in Ghent in 1987, is famous for its all-you-can-eat ribs concept for a fixed price. Coucke expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "Everyone in this country has been to Amadeus at some point." He emphasized that the goal is not to change the existing concept but to make it accessible to a wider audience.

The chain currently has five locations: two in Ghent and one each in Brussels, Antwerp, and Kruisem, attracting close to 400,000 diners annually. Thevelin and Dobbelaere, who took over in 2023, have focused on modernizing the kitchens and professionalizing operations without losing the restaurant's core identity. Coucke praised their efforts, noting improvements in quality and service.

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We are not here to change Amadeus, we want many more people to enjoy it.

With Coucke's backing, Amadeus is set for further growth. A sixth restaurant is scheduled to open in Bruges this fall. The new ambition, driven by Coucke's majority ownership, is to add a new location to the chain approximately every year.

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They have professionalized everything behind the scenes without losing its soul. The quality and service have never been better, and you can see that in the guests' reactions.