The Clarebout family: A Belgian entrepreneurial dynasty, 800,000 tons of success

Clarebout family

Based in Belgium, Clarebout is a leading family-owned company in the sector. agri-food specialized in potato processing. With assets estimated at over 431 million eurosWith its facilities in Nieuwkerke and Warneton, the company gained in influence and renown, covering regions such as Walloniathe Flandersand France.

Key information:

• Location:

  • Nieuwkerke: A production site
  • Warneton/Waasten: A major installation for potato processingwith impressive storage capacities to support the distribution of frozen foods.

• Growth: The trend is upwards, indicating continued expansion in the industry.

• Production capacity:

  • The ambitious 2012 project led to the creation of a huge processing unit capable of storing up to 90,000 tonnes of product.
  • Annual production of French fries is estimated at over 800,000 tonnes, placing Clarebout among the European giants in the sector.

• Challenges:

  • In 2015, a major fire in Nieuwkerke damaged the facilities, but reconstruction was swift and efficient.
  • Health issues, including an episode of unidentified illness in 2017 and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, affected the company as well as the industry on a large scale.

• Leadership: CEO Jan Clarebout remains discreet about the company's global success, despite its influential status in the market.

• Expansion: In 2022, the acquisition of Mydibel, a competitor based in Mouscron, considerably boosted Clarebout's sales to over one billion euros.

• Products and Services:

• Main products: Frozen French fries, potato flakes
• Market positioning: Leader in Belgium, with a strong presence in retail and private label.
• Collaboration with renowned retailers: Contracts established with supermarket chains such as that Intermarché, Carrefour, Colryut and Albert Heijn.

Potato growers and product quality are at the heart of Clarebout's concerns as it consolidates its reputation as a family-run business committed to sustainability and excellence in the production of frozen potato products. a fortune of over €430,000,000.

Production capacity table:

Location	Treatment unit size	Storage capacity	Production of French fries per year
Nieuwkerke	N/A	N/A	N/A
Warneton/Waasten	120m x 80m x 35m	70,000 pallets	>800,000 tonnes

In short, Clarebout continues to position itself as a major player in the food industry, with the innovation and dynamism needed to adapt to market developments and global challenges.