Frozen potato and snacks product specialist Lamb Weston/Meijer (LW/M) has announced that it will spend approximately €50 million to construct a new plant to supply dehydrated potato products to industrial customers. The facility will be built in the Netherlands at its flagship factory in Kruiningen.
Currently the company annually produces more than 30,000 tons of dried potato flakes in a variety of colors and sizes for the food industry. They are used as the primary ingredient in making mashed potatoes, instant soups, potato croquettes, crisps, gnocchi, bread mixes and snacks.
The investment, which fits within the sustainability ambitions of LW/M to increase overall potato usage, will include installation of processing, mixing, packaging and warehousing facilities. Construction will begin later this year.
On the frozen front, the company is evaluating opportunities to expand french fry capacity at one of its existing processing facilities in Europe. Meanwhile, it recently announced plans to build a technology center in Bergen op Zoom to develop and test new products.
Elsewhere in the Netherlands, Lamb Weston/Meijer will establish a Corporate Center at a new office location in Breda, while its Operations & Services Center will be located at the company’s current office location in Kruiningen.
“As a growing organization, LW/M is focused on recruiting and retaining talent. Concentrating various activities at different locations will enable the company to achieve better alignment with the labor market, reinforcing its international position. In addition, the current office space in Kruiningen and Breda is reaching its limit,” stated a recently issued press release.
LW/M has requested the advice of the Works Council and expects to begin realizing its plans during the course of 2019. There will be no personnel consequences, other than a new primary working location for a number of office staff. The company will work with those involved to look for suitable mobility solutions.
Lamb Weston/Meijer operates six factories in the Netherlands (4), the United Kingdom (1) and Austria (1), providing employment for approximately 1,400 people in the EMEA region. It offers a wide range of value-added frozen products distributed to foodservice and retail customers that include Potato Dippers, Twisters, Stealth Fries, Connoisseur Homestyle Fries, Potato Wedges, Pommes Croquettes, Hash Browns and Dipping Strips.
