US agri-food group JR Simplot has agreed to acquire Belgian potato-processing company Clarebout Potatoes for an undisclosed sum.
This strategic deal, expected to be finalized by the end of the year, will unite “two market leaders” in the frozen potato products sector, as stated by family-owned JR Simplot.
Clarebout Potatoes, a family-operated business based in Nieuwkerke, western Belgium, specializes in producing frozen potato products tailored for private-label customers.
With five production facilities across Europe, Clarebout employs more than 3,000 individuals and serves clients in the retail, catering, and food-manufacturing sectors.
JR Simplot anticipates that this agreement will facilitate the integration of “complementary assets.” Together, the two companies will boast a total of 23 production facilities.
In their announcement, JR Simplot emphasized that the acquisition “provides for the maintenance, and even expansion, of Clarebout Potatoes’ assets—staff and production sites—on the European continent.”
Graham Dugdale, president of JR Simplot’s Global Food division, remarked, “This is an exciting time for Simplot. We are thrilled about the synergy that Clarebout brings to our business, which not only expands our ability to serve the European market but brings together a pair of family-owned companies who align closely in core values and our commitment to customers, employees, and the communities where we operate.”
Simplot Foods, the company’s food division, markets potato products under various brands, including Simplot RoastWorks, Simplot Conquest Fries, and Simplot Blue Ribbon Fries.
Jan Clarebout, CEO of Clarebout Potatoes, commented, “We could have continued on our own, but the economic reality of the world, and a form of common sense, led us to come together. It is a choice for the future and a sustainable future.”
Beyond food processing and brands, JR Simplot operates in diverse sectors such as phosphate mining and fertilizer manufacturing.
The company extends its operations across the US, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Australia, India, and China.
JR Simplot Acquires Potato Products Rival Clarebout Potatoes
