Clarebout to close potato plant in Mouscron

Clarebout Potatoes plans to completely shut down production at its Mouscron 1 facility. The producer of frozen potato products cites overcapacity, rising costs, and increasing competition. Up to 392 jobs are at risk.

Demand lags behind capacity

According to Clarebout, current production capacity is approximately 14 to 20% higher than expected market demand. As a result, the company is incurring fixed costs for capacity that it does not fully utilize. At the same time, competitive pressure is mounting.

Mouscron 1 is the first site to be targeted because it is the smallest production facility within the group and operates with older equipment. As a result, according to Clarebout, both the costs per metric ton and operational efficiency are less favorable there than at the other plants.

With the closure, the company aims to align its production capacity more closely with demand. Clarebout also states that it intends to continue investing in its other facilities, in part to improve efficiency and product quality.

No final decision yet

Clarebout does emphasize, however, that nothing is final yet: the company has begun negotiations with employee representatives, so they now have the opportunity to evaluate the proposal, ask questions, and suggest alternatives. If the proposal is approved, production at the site will be phased out gradually. Up to 392 employees could be affected.

Clarebout Potatoes, together with its subsidiaries, employs approximately 3,000 people in Belgium and France. Since 2025, the company has been part of the American food and agriculture conglomerate Simplot Company.