Cargill Invests €56 Million to Strengthen Belgium as a European Food Innovation Hub
Global food and ingredient company Cargill is reinforcing Belgium’s position as a strategic center for food production, innovation, and customer collaboration in Europe through a €56 million (US$65 million) investment across three key facilities.
The investment program includes €21 million for upgrades at the Izegem edible oils bottling plant, €30 million to expand gourmet chocolate production in Mouscron, and €5.4 million for a new extrusion pilot plant at the Vilvoorde Innovation Center.
According to Geert Maesmans, Vice President of R&D for Cargill Food EMEA and Country Lead for Belgium, the investments reflect the company’s commitment to supporting customer growth while delivering innovative food solutions throughout Europe. He highlighted Belgium’s strong food industry, advanced logistics infrastructure, and close customer connections as key factors behind its strategic importance.
Cargill has significantly expanded operations at its Izegem facility, one of Europe’s largest edible oils bottling plants. The site plays a major role in the company’s development of healthier oil solutions, including high-oleic sunflower oils with lower saturated fat content and the elimination of industrial trans fats from its edible oils portfolio.
The company notes that high-oleic sunflower oil offers functionality comparable to olive oil while providing the stability required for commercial frying applications. Demand for these oils has increased as food manufacturers and foodservice operators seek products that combine nutrition, performance, and affordability.
The modernization project includes automation upgrades and process improvements designed to enhance efficiency and sustainability. As a result, the site has reduced carbon emissions by 17.9% compared with FY21/22 levels. Additional sustainability initiatives include increased use of recycled PET packaging, reduced plastic consumption, more efficient packaging formats, and solar panels that now generate approximately 30% of the facility’s annual electricity requirements.
At its Mouscron facility, Cargill has invested €30 million to expand production of its premium Veliche couverture chocolate range. The expansion nearly doubles the site’s gourmet chocolate manufacturing capacity, enabling the company to better serve artisanal foodservice operators, restaurants, and food manufacturers.
The enhanced facility will provide customers with greater flexibility, shorter lead times, and customized chocolate solutions. Cargill says the investment aligns with evolving consumer preferences, as shoppers increasingly seek products that deliver great taste while meeting expectations for health, value, and sustainability.
The company’s research indicates that taste remains the primary purchase driver, while interest in nutrition, affordability, and environmentally responsible products continues to grow.
Cargill has also invested €5.4 million in a new extrusion pilot plant at its Vilvoorde Innovation Center. The facility expands the company’s research and development capabilities and supports collaborative innovation with customers across food, feed, and pet food sectors.
The pilot plant enables rapid prototyping, ingredient functionality testing, and product validation in a pilot-scale environment. By allowing customers to refine and test concepts before full-scale production, Cargill aims to accelerate the transition from product idea to commercialization.
The investment strengthens Cargill’s European R&D network and supports a co-creation approach that combines technical expertise, application knowledge, and customer insights to develop solutions for emerging market needs.
Together, the investments in Izegem, Mouscron, and Vilvoorde underscore Cargill’s strategy of enhancing production capacity, sustainability performance, and innovation capabilities while reinforcing Belgium’s role as a leading hub for food innovation in Europe.