Since the 1950s, Danone has specialized in processing cow’s milk to manufacture dairy products. Every week, 30 million bottles and 4 million jars of yogurt roll off the line at its Rotselaar factory (65% of which is exported), making it the group’s second-largest site after its Alpro plant in Wevelgem (Flanders). This underlines the international allure of Flanders’ food sector. In fact, food products are among the region's most successful trade flagships, accounting for an annual EUR 22.6 billion in exports according to the 2019 annual report of sector federation Fevia.

Because the number of people following a vegan lifestyle is increasing, the company recently shifted its focus to concentrate on plant-based products. In doing so, Danone has now decided to invest EUR 10 million in a new machine that makes plant-based Actimel drinkable yogurt from oat and almond milk. It is the company’s fourth major investment in the Rotselaar factory in five years.  

For now, Rotselaar is the only factory to produce the plant-based Actimel variant, but production may increase if the new product catches on. It will soon hit the shelves in French, German and British supermarkets. According to Nathalie Pfaff, country manager at Danone Belux, the Rotselaar factory is growing because export is booming, and the plant is constantly innovating: “As such, we continue to appeal to our diverse customers and their demand for more choice.”