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Brussels, 10 December 2003.
Food group Ter Beke, producer of chilled
ready meals and processed meats, has started construction of a Research &
Development Centre at Marche-en-Famenne. The investment amounts to over
800,000 €.
Since 1994, Ter Beke has been producing not only processed meats but also
chilled ready meals. This market segment has expanded fast in recent years
and now represents 65% of volume of sales. In order to continue this growth,
food specialist Ter Beke has decided to centralize its R&D activities
relating to chilled ready meals at Marche-en-Famenne. "This location is a
logical choice since we also have two chilled ready meal production plants
in the area", says Luc De Bruyckere, Chairman of Ter Beke.
Until now, the group's R&D activities were spread across various production
sites. With the construction of the R&D Centre, specialists and skills are
now concentrated in one place. That will also make it possible to optimize
return on investment.
80 product launches per year
The food group develops new products at a fast pace. Each year, Ter Beke
launches an average of 40 processed meat products and 40 chilled ready meals
on the market. "Continuous innovation and product development are necessary
to respond to consumers' requirements with regard to freshness, taste,
convenience, health and safety", says Guido Bresseleers, R&D Manager. The
R&D Centre in Marche-en-Famenne will devote its energies to the development
of chilled ready meals. It will be working closely with external specialists
from Belgium and abroad. The R&D Centre will have a staff of twelve.
The foundation stone was solemnly laid on Friday 12 December 2003, in the
presence of Wallonia's Economics Minister Serge Kubla. The centre will be
operational in the summer of 2004.
About Ter Beke
Ter Beke is a Belgian food group specialising in chilled ready meals and
processed meats. The products are sold in Belgium, the Netherlands, France,
Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Switzerland, Spain, Austria, the Czech
Republic, Portugal and Scandinavia. Ter Beke is the European market leader
in chilled lasagne. With over 1,100 employees, Ter Beke expects to record
gross turnover of approximately 200 million € for 2003. Ter Beke is listed
on Euronext Brussels. |
