Cargill invests in expanding vegetable oil production in Belgium

US-based company Cargill has invested €56 million in expanding its production facilities in Belgium, strengthening its vegetable oils and chocolate manufacturing operations. The investment aims to enhance the company’s innovation capabilities in Europe and meet growing demand for food products across the region.

The capital expenditure covers three Cargill sites in Izegem, Mouscron, and Vilvoorde. It includes the expansion of production lines, equipment upgrades, and the creation of a new pilot center for product testing and innovation development.

At its Izegem facility, Cargill invested €21 million to upgrade the vegetable oil bottling line, the largest of its kind in Europe. The modernization has nearly doubled production capacity, while also adding new foodservice lines and automated systems to improve operational efficiency.

In Mouscron, the company invested €30 million to expand its premium Veliche chocolate production. The project adds 10,500 square meters of production space and almost doubles the site’s capacity, supplying professional kitchens, chocolatiers, and the food industry.

In Vilvoorde, Cargill has opened a new €5.4 million extrusion pilot plant based at its innovation center. The facility will support testing of new ingredients and product development across food, feed, and pet food segments. The company emphasizes that Belgium remains a key European hub due to its strong infrastructure and close proximity to customers.

Tags: edible oils, Cargill