News on Chips and Snacks from Belgium

Polysense, a Belgian technology start-up, raised EUR 2 million (USD 2.3 million) from tech entrepreneurs to further disrupt the food industry. The company specialises in AI solutions for production processes to reduce waste and increase efficiency. 

Around the world, celebrations are well underway for the 2nd International Day of the Potato, Friday, May 30th. Launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and themed 'Shaping History, Feeding the Future'

Roger & Roger has been honoured as the first SDG Pioneer in Wallonia by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). This prestigious title recognizes companies that have successfully integrated sustainability and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their operations.

As the company's third generation, Joost Debeuckelaere took over Belgian potato wholesaler Agro Debeuckelaere's reins from his father, Walter, in 2001 and ventured into chip production under the name Waltson in 2020. 

The General Assembly of the European Snacks Association (ESA) has elected Sandy Iagallo, Senior Director Regulatory & Wellbeing Europe at Kellogg Europe, as its new President for the term 2023-2025.

Visit us at Pulsemaster Stand R30 at Interpom 2022 and meet their team of PEF experts to discoverour cutting edge PEF-technology. We will be happy to discuss your upcoming PEF projects.

This year, INTERPOM, the leading trade fair for the entire potato chain, will be held on 27, 28 and 29 November 2022 in Kortrijk Xpo (Belgium).

The European Potato Processors’ Association (EUPPA) released a special report highlighting progress made in recent years by the sector across key areas of environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

The Almond Company purchased a TOMRA 5C premium optical sorter which has been operating at its Madera, California facility for the past six months with excellent results.

Mathijs Peters, responsible for EU Corporate Affairs at PepsiCo was elected President of the European Snacks Association asbl (ESA) for a two-year term. He succeeds Dr. Rolf Nilges, Intersnack’s Director of Research & Development and External Affairs.

No one could miss it in the media last year: the COVID-19 pandemic hit the Belgian potato sector hard.

Last year, despite the difficult growing conditions as a result of the extreme heat and drought during both the 2018-2019 and the 2019-2020 seasons, the Belgian potato-processing industry once again improved the record for processed potatoes.

The European Snacks Association (ESA) has elected Intersnack’s Director Research & Development and
External Affairs, Dr Rolf Nilges, as its new President for a two-year term.

The potato cannot be burned from the news. This week it turned out that Belgian growers are settling in northern France because the Belgian area is almost exhausted.

The potato processing industry in Belgium registered record growth and processed over 5 million tonnes of potatoes in 2018. However, in 2019 the sector faces major challenges as a result of the poor harvest in 2018

The European Commission has set an EU-wide objective for all packaging to be recyclable or reusable by 2030. However there is no easy packaging solution (yet) for manufacturers of potato chips.

Brent Bucks of knife manufacturer FAM explains how potato chips processors can increase revenues despite the low quality crop

The extreme heat and drought is a disaster for the upcoming potato harvest. And for processors too: in Belgium, potato chips manufacturer Roger&Roger (Croky) temporarily halts production of some its flavours to manage the lack of potato supply.