Biscoff producer Lotus opens cookie factory in Thailand

Belgian biscuit manufacturer Lotus Bakeries is having big plans to increase its worldwide expansion. In four years’ time, the Biscoff producer wants to open a factory in Thailand to produce its caramelised biscuits for the Asian and Australasian markets.

Sixth of sales

Belgian biscuits made in Thailand? That is exactly what Lotus Bakeries is planning with the purchase of a plot of land east of Bangkok, in the province of Chonburi. The biscuit producer aims to open a factory for Biscoff, the group’s brand of caramelised biscuits, in 2026.

For now, there is only a land sale agreement, but within four years Lotus wants to have a first production line up and running. Two or three more production lines should follow later. While Lotus Bakeries does not disclose the cost of its plans, the company does point out that it represents a major investment.

Lotus is not new to Asia: the continent already accounts for about a sixth of its worldwide sales volume and sales there are still growing strongly. Over the next fifteen years, CEO Jan Boone wants to capture a much larger share of the Asian market still, according to Belgian business newspaper De Tijd. Thailand is located strategically in Asia, he explains, and “allows import duties for important markets such as China, Korea and Malaysia to be reduced to almost zero” while reducing both transport costs and the environmental footprint.

The producer of the Biscoff biscuits is trying to boost its production capacity in an attempt to speed up its worldwide expansion. The Belgian company does not only focus on Asia, however: it is also investing heavily in its United States production plants, aiming to double its capacity there.