France: McCain to invest $378 million in potato operations

Potato and frozen food specialist McCain has announced an investment of €350 million ($378 million) to bolster its production facilities in France.

The investment is set to increase production in the country from 600,000 tonnes of finished products to roughly 750,000 tonnes. The company’s Harnes site is set to receive the bulk of the funds, but €30 million ($33.3 million) is also earmarked for the Bethune site’s new potato specialities production line, while €25 million ($27.5 million) will go towards replacing the fryer and introducing coating technology at the Matougues plant.

Commenting on the investment, McCain Continental Europe regional president Alain Duranleau said: “This reflects both the group’s dynamism and the importance it attaches to France. By equipping our sites with state-of-the-art facilities to boost our production capacity and serve sustainability, we are reaffirming our commitment and the importance we attach to France and its regions”.

McCain has a 1,000-strong workforce in France, in addition to collaborating with over 800 farmers.

Source: McCain /  Just Food