New investments in edible oils, premium chocolate and R&D facilities position Belgium at the center of Cargill’s European growth strategy
Global food and agriculture major Cargill is deepening its commitment to Belgium with a series of strategic investments totaling approximately €56 million, reinforcing the country’s role as a key manufacturing, innovation and supply hub for the company’s European operations.
The investment package spans three facilities and is designed to expand production capacity, accelerate product innovation and strengthen customer collaboration across food, feed and specialty ingredient markets.
At its Izegem facility, Cargill has completed a €21 million modernization and expansion program at what is already its largest edible oils bottling site in Europe. The project has transformed roughly 60% of the facility, nearly doubling production capacity while introducing new automation technologies aimed at boosting efficiency and enhancing supply reliability. Two dedicated foodservice production lines have also been added, increasing flexibility and strengthening the site’s ability to serve restaurants, catering operators and foodservice customers across the region.
The company is also scaling up its gourmet chocolate operations in Mouscron through a €30 million investment that adds approximately 10,500 square meters of production space. The expansion nearly doubles manufacturing capacity for premium chocolate products and is expected to help customers respond more effectively to seasonal demand cycles, accelerate product customization and shorten delivery timelines. The site produces Veliche, Cargill’s premium couverture chocolate brand, serving artisanal chocolatiers, foodservice operators and food manufacturers.
Complementing these manufacturing investments, Cargill has strengthened its research and development capabilities through a €5.4 million investment in a new extrusion pilot plant at its Vilvoorde Innovation Center. The facility will support rapid product prototyping, ingredient performance testing and collaborative innovation across food, animal nutrition and pet food applications. The latest addition builds on the company’s previously announced €45 million investment in its Vilvoorde food innovation campus, further enhancing Cargill’s European R&D ecosystem.
“Belgium is a key strategic hub for Cargill in Europe, thanks to its strong food industry, close customer connectivity and advanced logistics infrastructure,” said Geert Maesmans, Vice President of R&D for Cargill’s Food business in EMEA and the company’s Belgium country lead. He noted that the investments will strengthen local manufacturing and innovation capabilities while enabling the company to deliver a broader portfolio of solutions to customers across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The latest expansion adds to Cargill’s long-standing presence in Belgium, where the company has operated since 1953. Today, Cargill employs more than 1,500 people across nine locations, encompassing production facilities, research centers and regional coordination functions.
By expanding capacity in edible oils and premium chocolate while investing in next-generation food innovation, Cargill is positioning Belgium as a critical pillar of its European growth strategy, aimed at meeting evolving consumer preferences and accelerating innovation across the food value chain.
