When the pandemic turbocharged digital adoption, cooking platforms multiplied fast. For Lekker van bij ons, VLAM's recipe platform promoting local Belgian produce, staying relevant became a real challenge. The platform was still running on Drupal 7: outdated, hard to search and lacking the features modern users expect. Together, we completed a full Drupal migration, implemented structured data for better Google visibility and added features that keep visitors coming back.
Drupal 7 to Drupal 9 migration for a Flemish recipe platform
Structured data as the foundation for Google featured snippets
Personalised shopping lists and user accounts
Ingredient list reduced from 12,000 to 1,984 unique elements
Multidisciplinary team: UX, development, SEO and content
Four months from kick-off to launch
The challenge
How do you stay relevant in a saturated market of cooking platforms, with an outdated CMS, limited search functionality and a chaotic ingredient database?
The solution
A complete Drupal migration to version 9, combined with structured data implementation and new user features that drive engagement and return visits.
VLAM x iO: local produce, digital impact
VLAM (Flanders' Centre for Agri- and Fisheries Marketing) promotes Flemish agricultural products to consumers in Belgium and beyond. Through Lekker van bij ons, VLAM inspires home cooks to buy local and cook seasonally.
We are their digital partner for a platform that not only looks good, but performs. Our collaboration extends beyond this migration: we think along about user experience, discoverability and future growth. This case highlights one part of that partnership, but there is more we are building together.
Why a Drupal migration was unavoidable
Lekker van bij ons grew organically, but the platform did not keep pace. Drupal 7 was approaching end-of-life, the search function frustrated users and the ingredient database had ballooned to 12,000 unclear entries. For a platform that aims to inspire people to cook locally, this was a problem: users dropped off before finding their recipe.
The migration to Drupal 9 was not a cosmetic fix. It was a strategic choice to futureproof the platform, improve user experience and lay the foundation for better search engine visibility.
Structured data: the key to featured snippets
A recipe platform that cannot be found has little value. That is why structured data implementation was a core focus of this Drupal migration. By structuring recipe content according to Schema.org guidelines, the information becomes more readable for Google.
The result: the foundation for featured snippets, the highlighted answers that appear at the very top of search results. By structuring content around frequently asked questions about local products and seasonal recipes, we maximised the platform's chances of earning those coveted #0 positions in Google.
New features that bring users back
A successful Drupal migration goes beyond technology. It is about what users can do with it. Together with the VLAM team, we identified features that drive engagement:Personalised shopping lists: users compile their own lists based on chosen recipesUser accounts: save favourite recipes and find them laterImproved search function: find the right recipes faster and more intuitivelyCleaned-up ingredient database: from 12,000 unclear entries to 1,984 unique, searchable elements
A multidisciplinary team for a complex migration
Migrating a platform in four months requires a team that collaborates seamlessly. We brought together UX designers, Drupal developers, product owners, copywriters, email marketers and SEO specialists. Each discipline contributed to the end result: a platform that is technically solid, pleasant to use and discoverable in search engines.
By staying close to the VLAM team, we remained agile. Feedback was processed quickly, priorities kept clear and the timeline met.
The numbers
1
registered users
1
saved recipes
1
shopping lists created
1months
time to market
1
unique ingredients (was 12,000)
A platform built for growth
The rebuilt Drupal environment does not just solve today's problems: it enables future growth. Lekker van bij ons now has a modern recipe platform that attracts and retains visitors from Flanders and across Belgium.
In the first three weeks after launch, 550 new users registered, 2,356 recipes were saved and 92 shopping lists were created. These are not vanity metrics: they are signals that users are actively engaging with the platform and returning.
Thanks to the user-friendly setup, the VLAM team can now manage the platform largely independently. We continue to support them with optimisations, new insights and further development where needed.
