French fry group McCain wants to accelerate its growth in Brazil. This will strengthen its position in one of the most important markets for frozen fries.
According to McCain, Brazil is well on its way to becoming the third-largest frozen fries market globally, after North America and Europe. That's why the Canadian fry empire is investing its largest amount ever in the country.
A new French fry line and a line for other potato products are being built at the Araxá plant. The new lines are scheduled to be operational in the second half of 2027. A new potato storage facility is also being built. This is necessary to supply the plant with high-quality potatoes year-round.
The group estimates the total investment at €290 million. "This investment confirms the importance of the Brazilian market to our company and our ambition to grow consistently and responsibly," said McCain Brazil CEO Aluizio Periquito Neto in a statement.
The existing plant already runs on 100% renewable energy and recently received carbon neutral certification 1 for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. "Promoting sustainable practices in everything we do and caring for the planet have always been global priorities for McCain. The expansion of the Araxá plant will be no exception," explains Periquito Neto.
The Araxá plant opened in 2022. McCain also fully acquired Forno de Minas in 2023. This underscores the significant investment the Canadian chip company has made in Brazil in recent years.