Cargill invests US$64M to solidify Belgium as European food innovation hub
BELGIUM – Cargill has announced a sweeping €56 million (US$64.99M) capital investment programme across three of its Belgian facilities, targeting its edible oils bottling infrastructure, premium gourmet chocolate production lines, and regional research and innovation centres.
This capital injection is designed to dramatically scale up the company’s manufacturing throughput and research capabilities, cementing Belgium as its central strategic hub for food innovation and supply chain reliability in Europe.
The multi-site expansion directly addresses a shifting consumer landscape. According to regional company leadership, modern food market dynamics are moving away from a demand for higher volumes toward a demand for healthier, specialized product formulations, including items with reduced sugar, lower salt, and healthier fat profiles.
The largest individual share of the funding, totaling €30 million (US$34.82M), has been allocated to Cargill’s gourmet chocolate processing plant in Mouscron.
The expansion adds 10,500 square meters of production space, effectively doubling the factory’s output capacity.
This increased footprint will help the company better manage highly volatile seasonal demand spikes for its premium couverture chocolate brand, Veliche, which serves pastry professionals, industrial manufacturers, and restaurants throughout the region.
Simultaneously, Cargill invested €21 million (US$24.37M) in its facility in Izegem, which is its largest edible oil bottling plant in Europe.
Over the last year, approximately 60% of this site was overhauled and modernized with advanced automation.
The upgrade doubles the facility’s packaging capacity and introduces two dedicated production lines to secure just-in-time supply chains for commercial foodservice operators.
The final component of the initiative focuses purely on research and development. Cargill poured €5.4 million (US$6.27M) into its European Food Innovation Center in Vilvoorde to build a highly advanced extrusion pilot plant.
The facility supports rapid prototyping, ingredient functionality testing, and customer collaboration across food, feed, and pet food applications, and builds on the previously announced €45 million (US$52.24M) investment in Cargill’s food innovation centre in Vilvoorde.
Commenting on the investments, Geert Maesmans, Vice President of R&D for Cargill’s Food business in EMEA and Cargill’s Belgium country lead, said: “Belgium is a key strategic hub for Cargill in Europe, thanks to its strong food industry, close customer connectivity, and advanced logistics infrastructure that enable efficient supply across Western Europe. These investments not only strengthen our local food R&D and production capabilities but also allow us to continue to grow with our customers.”
Together, the Izegem, Mouscron, and Vilvoorde investments reinforce Belgium’s position in Cargill’s European network and support the company’s focus on supply, innovation, and more sustainable production.
Sign up to HERE receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
