Overcapacity Pushes Clarebout to Consider Shutting Moeskroen 1

Clarebout Potatoes is considering shutting down its Moeskroen 1 plant in Belgium, a move that could affect nearly 400 workers. The facility uses older equipment and has higher production costs, making it less competitive within the company’s network.

The frozen potato sector is under pressure, and Clarebout’s production capacity currently exceeds demand by 14–20%, prompting the company to explore downsizing. A formal consultation process with employees is underway, and no final decision has been made.

Despite the potential closure, Clarebout plans to continue investing in its other, more modern facilities to improve efficiency, product quality, and long‑term sustainability.

Read the full article here: Clarebout Potatoes Proposes Moeskroen 1 Closure as Capacity Exceeds Frozen Potato Demand | PotatoPro

Source: PotatoPro

September 9, 2026

Photo credit: Clarebout News

Dry Weather Pushes UK and EU Potato Harvests Far Below Expectations

September 23, 2026

Potato growers across the UK and Europe are bracing for a major production shortfall, with harvests projected to fall 3.5 million tons below expectations. The primary drivers are dry weather, […]

New U‑Vision Technology Enhances Potato Sorting Accuracy

September 23, 2026

RPS Machinery is expanding its potato‑sector offering with U‑Vision, an advanced optical grading system that uses high‑resolution multi‑camera imaging to assess potatoes for size, shape, colour, and surface defects. A […]

Flikweert Vision produces 200th QualityGrader

October 23, 2024

October 23, 2024 Flikweert Vision recently celebrated a major achievement by producing the 200th Quality Grader, just three years after launching the first one. Initially designed for the optical sorting […]

Researchers in the UK develop soil powered battery!

October 23, 2024

October 23, 2024 The idea of soil microbes generating electricity is such a fascinating and revolutionary development. The concept of “Bactery,” a soil-powered battery developed by the University of Bath, harnesses the power of electrigens—microbes capable of generating electrons while consuming organic compounds in the soil. This breakthrough has the potential to sustainably power in-field sensors, part of the “Smart Farming” revolution, providing real-time data on soil conditions to support more efficient agricultural practices. Plus, no need for replacing batteries or maintaining solar panels—just install and let nature do the rest. To read the full story click here: Researchers develop battery powered by soil | The Western Producer

Waste during potato sorting reduced by 30%

August 20, 2024

Visar Sorting sees big market potential regarding potato sorting. The company specializes in the development and distribution of high-quality sorting systems for field crops, especially potatoes and carrots. The systems […]

Action Plan to Combat Late Blight is Needed in Europe

June 7, 2024

European potato production is at significant risk due to the re-emergence of late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans. This pathogen, responsible for the Irish Famine, poses a severe threat to […]