Cargill is a committed to providing food, ingredients, agricultural solutions, and industrial products to nourish the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way. Employing 1,650 people through its ten Belgian locations, Cargill sits at the heart of the supply chain, partnering with producers and customers to source, make and deliver products that are vital for living. This includes grain and oilseeds processing, and the production and sale of food ingredients such as edible oils, starches, sweeteners, texturizers and chocolate.

By providing customers with life’s essentials, Cargill enables businesses to grow, communities to prosper and consumers to live well.

Cargill ‘s House of Chocolate in Mouscron

Cargill has invested heavily in Belgium: over €263 million in the past 10 years. Recent investments include:

• A €140 million investment in its first multi-waste and residues-based biodiesel plant in Ghent (2022) which converts waste oils and residues into renewable fuel (press release).
• A €21 million investment to build a “House of Chocolate” in Mouscron, including a chocolate experience center and sensory lab. Operational since June 2022, it is a home for inspiration, co-creation and innovation with their customers. It’s a place for customers to meet and engage with Cargill’s R&D chocolate engineers, sensory experts, chefs, international commercial teams, marketeers and operational teams, all who have the same passion – to create a sensorial experience for consumers through the taste, texture, look and feel of chocolate. It is conveniently located next to their state-of-the art chocolate production plant. Other chocolate production plants are located in Antwerp and Kalmthout.

Companies are attracted to Belgium thanks to its central location in Europe, the infrastructure and public support for investments and innovation. And above all: Belgium’s got talent. The country boasts a highly skilled and multilingual workforce, which contributes to its attractiveness for investors

Many of the company’s innovations are born out of the European research & development center in Vilvoorde, which hosts 200+ scientists from 20+ different nationalities focusing on research and product development for Cargill’s broad range of food, feed and industrial ingredients and their application performance. Think new plant proteins for vegan foods, for example, or leveraging expertise in food ingredients for skin and hair care.

Other activities include:

• Processing of oilseeds for the food industry in the ports of Ghent and Antwerp.
• Refining and blending of liquid oils in both Antwerp and Izegem, with special focus on infant nutrition.
• Bottling liquid oils in Izegem.
• Mechelen is home to the EMEA HQ for functions and the coordination hub of the Belgian Cares Council.

The Cargill Cares Council in Belgium donates each year to organizations such as Koning Boudewijnstichting, Special Olympics and many other smaller, local associations. Cargill’s volunteers offer hundreds of hours of their time and talent to help build sustainable communities where we live and work.

About the company in this story...

Cargill

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