Cargill invests US$63.8 million in Belgium Food Innovation, chocolate and edible oils expansion

Cargill has invested approximately €56 million (US$63.8 million) across three facilities in Belgium, expanding its edible oils production, gourmet chocolate manufacturing and research capabilities as the company responded to growing demand for food ingredients and customer-led innovation across Europe.

The investments covered Cargill’s edible oils bottling facility in Izegem, its gourmet chocolate production site in Mouscron, and a new extrusion pilot plant at the company’s Innovation Center in Vilvoorde.

• Cargill invested approximately €56 million (US$63.8 million) across production and R&D facilities in Izegem, Mouscron and Vilvoorde.
• The company expanded edible oils bottling and gourmet chocolate manufacturing capacity while adding a new extrusion pilot plant for product development and testing.
• The investments strengthened Belgium’s role within Cargill’s European manufacturing, innovation and supply network.

The largest share of the investment was directed toward food manufacturing operations. In Izegem, Cargill completed a €21 million (US$23.9 million) expansion of its edible oils bottling site, which the company described as its largest edible oil bottling facility in Europe.

Around 60% of the site was transformed as part of the project, with upgrades designed to nearly double production capacity while increasing automation and operational efficiency. The expansion also introduced two dedicated foodservice production lines intended to provide greater manufacturing flexibility and support supply reliability for foodservice customers.

The project represented a significant upgrade for a facility that plays an important role in serving customers across the European market.

Cargill also expanded its gourmet chocolate operations in Mouscron through a €30 million (US$34.2 million) investment. The project added 10,500 square meters of production space, almost doubling the site’s manufacturing capabilities.

The expansion was linked to the company’s existing gourmet chocolate facility and was intended to help customers respond more effectively to seasonal demand, develop customized products and reduce lead times.

The Mouscron site produces Cargill’s Veliche premium couverture chocolate range and supplies artisanal foodservice customers, restaurants and food manufacturers.

Alongside the manufacturing investments, the company strengthened its research and innovation capabilities in Belgium through the installation of a new extrusion pilot plant at its Innovation Center in Vilvoorde.

The facility was supported by a €5.4 million (US$6.2 million) investment and was designed to accelerate product development through rapid prototyping, ingredient functionality testing and customer collaboration. The pilot plant will support projects spanning food, feed and pet food applications.

The new investment built on a previously announced €45 million (US$51.3 million) commitment to Cargill’s food innovation center in Vilvoorde and forms part of the company’s wider European R&D network.

Geert Maesmans, Vice President of R&D for Cargill’s Food business in EMEA and Cargill’s Belgium country lead, said Belgium continued to play a central role in the company’s European operations. “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,” said Maesmans.

“These investments not only strengthen our local food R&D and production capabilities but allow us to continue to grow with our customers and provide them with more diverse and innovative food solutions across Belgium and the EMEA region.”

The investments add to a long-standing Belgian presence for Cargill. The company has operated in the country since 1953 and today employs more than 1,500 people across nine locations covering manufacturing, research and development, and regional coordination activities.

Belgium has become an increasingly important location within the company’s European network because of its established food industry, logistics infrastructure and proximity to major customer markets.

By combining expanded production capacity with additional innovation capabilities, the latest projects were intended to strengthen Cargill’s ability to support customers across multiple food categories while improving responsiveness to changing market requirements.

The company reported that the investments would reinforce Belgium’s role as a strategic manufacturing and innovation center within its European operations, supporting its broader focus on supply resilience, product development and more sustainable production.