Cargill has committed approximately €56 million (£48.35M) to enhance its capabilities in edible oils, gourmet chocolate, and research and innovation.
This initiative aims to solidify its presence in Belgium by investing in the expansion of its Izegem facility dedicated to edible oils and its Mouscron site focused on gourmet chocolate. Additionally, a new pilot extrusion plant is set to be developed at the Vilvoorde Innovation Center.
The overarching goal is to establish Belgium as a crucial hub for food innovation and manufacturing within Europe, addressing the increasing demand for edible oils, high-quality chocolate products, and customer-driven innovations.
In the past year, Cargill has revamped its largest edible oil bottling plant in Europe. With an investment of €21 million, the Izegem facility’s capacity has doubled, incorporating automation and innovative solutions aimed at boosting efficiency and ensuring consistent supply reliability over the long term.
The expansion also entails the addition of two new production lines specifically for foodservice, enhancing flexibility and reinforcing its service capabilities for foodservice clients.
At the Mouscron location, the €30 million investment adds 10,500 square meters of production space adjacent to the existing gourmet chocolate operations. This development enhances Cargill’s ability to meet seasonal demand from gourmet chocolate customers, enabling the creation of more customized products while reducing lead times.
The expanded facility will produce Cargill’s premium couverture chocolate range, Veliche, catering to artisanal foodservice clients, restaurants, and food manufacturers.
The remaining €5.4 million is allocated to the new extrusion pilot plant at the Vilvoorde Innovation Center. This facility will facilitate rapid prototyping, ingredient functionality testing, and collaboration with customers in food, feed, and pet food sectors, complementing a previously announced €45 million investment in the Food Innovation Center at the same site. Collectively, these investments enhance Cargill’s wider European research and development infrastructure.
“Belgium serves as a pivotal strategic hub for Cargill within Europe, benefiting from a robust food industry, close customer connections, and a sophisticated logistics framework that supports efficient distribution across Western Europe,” stated Geert Maesmans, vice president of R&D for Cargill’s Food division in EMEA and country lead for Belgium.
“These investments not only bolster our local food R&D and production capabilities but also enable us to continue evolving alongside our clients, providing a wider array of innovative food solutions throughout Belgium and the EMEA region.”
Since its inception in Belgium in 1953, Cargill has grown to employ over 1,500 individuals across nine locations, focusing on production, research and development, and regional coordination.
