Belgian super invests in agricultural land

The Belgian supermarket chain Colruyt Group has bought its own agricultural company in West Flanders: an organic company where vegetables are grown in the open. Colruyt has previously participated in joint ventures, but buying a company yourself is new.

It concerns 25 hectares of organic farmland. The company is located in Alveringem, West Flanders, the website writes felt.be† It is a first for the Belgian supermarket chain to become active in agriculture itself. However, it is looking for an operator who will manage the company.

Stefan Goethaert is responsible for Colruyt Group's agricultural strategy. Goethaert sees the investment as a new step towards collaborations and partnerships in agriculture. In the past, the company mainly worked on projects; for apples, potatoes and organic pork.

Investment plans
Goethaert is looking for a business manager with entrepreneurship who wants to run the company. Preferably someone who has experience with large organic companies. He does not have to worry about investments and sales. This raises the question of whether family business Colruyt has further investment plans. Goethaert does not dare to speak out about this. The company first wants to gain experience with this way of working together. If it is positive, new steps may follow.

Colruyt Group had a turnover of more than €9 billion last year. Net profit rose to €374 million. So there is enough cash to invest. The company is mainly known as a supermarket chain, but is also active in other sectors (such as wholesale and technology). In the Netherlands, the company is known for the supermarket Spar. It also has a chain with purely organic supermarkets in Belgium: Bio-Planet.

Niels van der Boom

Niels van der Boom is a senior market specialist for arable crops at DCA Market Intelligence. He mainly makes analyses and market updates about the potato market. In columns he shares his sharp view on the arable sector and technology.

n.vanderboom@boerenbusiness. Nl

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