Frozen fries producer Lutosa invests €225 million in Waregem site
Frozen potato products manufacturer Lutosa is investing 225 million euros in its Waregem plant, the company announced on Saturday. The investment will increase the plant's capacity and make it more sustainable.
Lutosa is a Belgian producer of frozen potato products and is owned by Canadian multinational McCain. It employs around 1,000 people at its plants in Waregem in Flanders and Leuze-en-Hainaut in Wallonia. The Flemish site is now being expanded thanks to an investment of 225 million euros.
Lutosa's plans include a new frying line, an extension of the flaking line and the construction of a new potato reception and sorting station. The company's wastewater treatment plant will also be upgraded, resulting in an 85 per cent reuse of water. With this investment, the company aims to reduce the energy consumption of the production process in Waregem by more than 25 per cent.
Work has already started at the Waregem plant. The expansion, which will create an additional 100 jobs, is expected to be completed by September 2026.
Growing market
With this investment, Lutosa joins Belgian competitors such as Agristo and Clarebout, who are also expanding their production facilities.
The global market for potato products is growing by 3 per cent a year, Lutosa CEO Alain Dufait told De Tijd. The Asian market is even growing by 8 per cent. This is due to the growing world population, an expanding middle class and the spread of western eating habits, the CEO says.
Belgium is the world's largest exporter of potatoes. More than 15 million tonnes of frozen potato chips are eaten every year. Half of this is made from local potatoes, the other half from exports, of which Belgium supplies 3 tonnes a year.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO CORALIE CARDON
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