Belgium’s largest producer of frozen fries, Clarebout Potatoes, has been officially acquired by the American agribusiness giant J.R. Simplot Company, marking a significant consolidation in the global potato industry.
The deal, which had been rumored for months, was confirmed this weekend by both companies through coordinated press releases.
The acquisition positions J.R. Simplot – headquartered in Boise, Idaho and known worldwide as a leading supplier to McDonald’s – as a new force in the European potato processing market.
With more than 15,000 employees globally, Simplot’s move into Europe was seen as a strategic necessity. Clarebout, with its state-of-the-art facilities in Nieuwkerke, Waasten, and the recently opened factory in Dunkirk, offered the ideal launchpad.
“We could have continued independently”, says Clarebout CEO Jan Clarebout, “but today’s economic realities and rational decision-making led us to this partnership.” The company, which employs more than 3,000 people and generates annual revenues exceeding 1 billion euros, will retain its staff and production sites under Simplot’s ownership. Both parties emphasized that Clarebout will continue to grow its footprint on the European continent.
From regional powerhouse to global player
Founded in West Flanders, Clarebout has grown from a local family business into the third-largest frozen fry producer in the world, trailing only Canada’s McCain and the U.S.-based Lamb Weston. The company exports to over 120 countries, playing a vital role in Belgium’s reputation as a world leader in potato processing.
This acquisition follows another major strategic move by Clarebout: its 2022 takeover of fellow Belgian fry producer Mydibel. That deal, valued at over 400 million euros, saw Clarebout outmaneuver multinationals McCain and Lamb Weston in a competitive auction to acquire 100 percent of the shares.
Mydibel, based in Mouscron and founded by the Mylle family in 1988, was widely regarded as one of the industry’s crown jewels.
At the time, Mydibel CEO Marc van Herreweghe described the sale as “an M&A potato deal with nothing but winners.” He credited Clarebout with offering continuity, investment, and a shared family-business ethos. The acquisition expanded Clarebout’s workforce by 800 and added sustainable, innovative capacity to its growing empire.
A strategic match with Simplot
The integration with Simplot aligns Clarebout with a company that shares similar values: innovation, respect for resources, and a people-first approach. J.R. Simplot, founded in 1929, remains a family-owned enterprise and a pioneer in the frozen food industry.
The acquisition gives Simplot its first major production base in Europe and is expected to accelerate the global ambitions of both companies. The deal is pending regulatory approval but is expected to close by the end of the year. Financial details have not been disclosed.
“This is a monumental moment for both Clarebout and the broader European food industry”, said an industry analyst. “We are witnessing the rise of a transatlantic fry titan.”
With Clarebout’s strong European foundation and Simplot’s global muscle, the new alliance is poised to reshape the future of frozen potato products worldwide. As the fry world consolidates further, one thing is clear: the humble Belgian fry is now firmly in American hands without losing its European soul.
