Dutch Potato Processing company Aviko builds greenfield french fry factory in Belgium

Dutch-based company Aviko, one of Europe’s biggest producers of fresh, frozen, dried and specialty potato products, has announced a major investment in its production capacity in Poperinge, Belgium.

The announcement follows approval by Aviko’s parent company Royal Cosun. The investment includes the establishment of an entirely new production facility for frozen French fries and potato flakes for markets in Western Europe, Asia and South America.

Ton Christiaanse,CEO Aviko Group:

“The global market for frozen potato products continues to grow at around 4% per year. Additional processing capacity will allow us to take full advantage of this rapidly growing market and realize our ambitious growth targets.”

“After thorough assessment of cultivation, logistics and the market, Poperinge in the South of Belgium was determined as the best region to expand our mainstream capacity.”

The new plant with a capacity of 175.000 tons frozen fries and 11.000 tons flakes annually includes waste water treatment, a 40 meter high cold store, a factory, a washing & sorting area and flakes production.

In Proven, a close by sub municipality of Poperinge, Aviko already has a production site for deep-frozen fries and potato specialties with around 275 employees. This production site will focus entirely on the production of potato specialties.

The current frozen fries production will be transferred to Poperinge. When fully operational, the new facility will employ approximately 155 employees, including 45 coming over from Proven.

Start-up is expected to commence in September 2021.

Aviko’s ambition is to realize growth in a sustainable and responsible manner with respect for people, society and the environment.

Therefore, throughout the various stages of design, construction and operation the highest levels of sustainability are met.

This includes:

• High combined energy efficiency
• Minimal loss of potato material
• Full reprocessing of residual material
• Reuse of water
• Rooftop solar panels
• A cold store built in accordance with BREEAM requirements, a prestigious assessment tool for the sustainability performance of buildings

Albert Markusse, CEO Cosun:

“This investment will allow Aviko to further enhance its long-term #1 and #2 positions in the European food service and retail markets, while at the same time pursuing attractive, profitable growth opportunities overseas.”

With activities in more than 110 countries and production locations in The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Poland and China, Aviko is the fourth biggest potato products producing company in the world.

The company is part of Royal Cosun, a 2-plus billion Euro agro-industrial cooperative and manufacturer of products and ingredients for food, non-food applications and the chemical industry.