Agristo invests in Escaudœuvres

to strengthen its production in Europe

The Belgian group Agristo, which specializes in frozen potato-based products, is setting up a new factory in Escaudœuvres, Hauts-de-France. The project is part of a strategy for expansion in Europe and is based on the conversion of an existing industrial site. It will create several hundred jobs and bring fresh momentum to the regional agrifood sector.

Published on 13.07.2026

What is
Agristo?

Agristo was founded in Belgium in 1986 and is a key player in the agrifood industry, specializing in potato processing. The company produces a wide range of frozen products (chips and potato-based specialties) for the retail and catering sectors.

Agristo has several production sites in Belgium, the Netherlands, and India, and exports its products to 145 countries. Its development is underpinned by an innovation strategy, quality standards control, and a desire to integrate sustainable practices into every stage of production.

Key figures

5 sites in operation in Belgium, the Netherlands, and India
1,500 employees in the world
950,000 tonnes of finished products
680 clients in 145 pays

Hauts de France: a strategic choice
for Agristo’s development

France is Agristo’s second-largest market after the United Kingdom. The group is investing in a new production facility in Escaudœuvres, Hauts-de-France, to meet growing demand and strengthen its presence in Europe.

This move is part of an approach based on proximity to clients, supply-chain optimization, and sustainable development.

A strategic decision, driven by several advantages:

A dynamic agricultural region: France’s leading potato producer, guaranteeing local and high-quality supply.
An attractive industrial ecosystem: a well-developed agrifood sector, providing access to specialist industrial partners and skills.

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The plant, which is scheduled to begin operations in the second half of 2027, will gradually ramp up production to 300,000 metric tons per year. This project will ultimately create 300 direct jobs.

With this move, Agristo is consolidating its foothold in France and ensuring its long-term development in a key market.

Decisive,
partnership-based support

Agristo’s decision to set up in Hauts-de-France reflects a collective desire among local stakeholders to encourage the arrival of a large-scale industrial project.

Nord France Invest served as a catalyst within a collaborative effort involving government agencies, the Hauts-de-France Region, and the Cambraisis Urban Community.

In particular, the agency assisted the company with:

Jointly identifying host sites
Helping with integration into the local ecosystem
Providing support for relationships with government departments
Mobilizing available aid

This joint work was carried out in a spirit of close cooperation and testifies to Hauts-de-France’s capacity to mobilize stakeholders quickly and efficiently in order to support international investors with complex industrial projects.

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Structural impacts
for the Hauts-de-France region

The Agristo project is part of an approach based on industrial reconversion and involves the rehabilitation of the former site of the sugar producer Tereos, which closed in 2023. The transformation gives an existing site a new industrial purpose, thereby reducing surface artificialization and optimizing the use of already developed real estate.

The factory will incorporate modern technologies designed to maximize energy efficiency and optimize resource management to ensure more sustainable production. Agristo’s arrival will also bring fresh momentum to the local economy, particularly the agricultural industry.

Potatoes will be sourced in partnership with local farmers, ensuring a short supply chain and stable production. These collaborations will draw on:

Seasonal contracts
A loyalty scheme with incentives, designed to foster a lasting relationship of trust with farmers.
An existing supply network, the result of long-standing complementarity between beet and potato farming in the region.

Agristo’s arrival in Escaudœuvres combines industrial conversion, sustainable production, and local agricultural ties, and as such is a major lever for environmental and economic development in the region.

A landmark project
that benefits both the industry and the region

Through this project, Agristo is integrating its development into a strong local dynamic. By choosing Escaudœuvres, the group benefits from an efficient agrifood ecosystem and proximity to its key markets.

This move demonstrates, once again, the attractiveness of Hauts-de-France for industries looking for competitiveness and sustainable growth. By converting an existing industrial site, the project combines economic development with commitment to the environment, while creating hundreds of jobs in the area.

With this new factory, Agristo is strengthening its position in Europe and actively contributing to the region’s industrial and agricultural vitality.

Do you have an agri-food project?
in Hauts-de-France?

Dorothée

Rémi

Dorothée and Rémi are your dedicated contacts for the agri-food industry. They provide confidential and free support throughout every stage of your business development in the Hauts-de-France region.