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Who can benefit from the NFI services?

4 specific cases:
  • Foreign companies in all sectors looking to expand in Hauts-de-France
  • French companies with no site in Hauts-de-France
  • Hauts-de-France companies with a succession plan
  • Foreign-owned companies in Hauts-de-France with a development project
Our services are not intended for :
  • French or international self-employed entrepreneurs
  • French companies wishing to export
  • International companies seeking distribution networks only

Why as the help of Nord France Invest?

Nord France Invest provides you with completely tailored, free of charge and confidential support. We centralize all the information you need to analyze your project. We facilitate your process to find a site, partners or land. We organize site visits. We accelerate your networking with future regional partners. Find out more about the agency's services on this page.

What type of project can support you in?

The agency supports job-creating investment projects. The nature of projects varies according to 3 main categories:
  • Start-up projects
  • Expansion of existing sites in the region
  • takeovers of regional businesses by international companies.
Nord France Invest's services are not aimed at capital investments.
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HomeBusiness SectorAgrifood Industry

The agrifood industry

in Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France is an agrifood powerhouse. Ranked third nationwide, we’re your gateway to markets in France and across Europe. And as the country’s top exporting region for agrifood products, we’re an ideal springboard to international markets. Find out what our region can do for your business.
Nord France Invest

Where does the agrifood industry
stands in Hauts-de-France

GLOBAL PLAYERS SETTLED IN HAUTS-DE-FRANCE

The region is home to many national and international leaders, from Häagen-Dazs to Refresco to McCain and Barilla. Some regional companies have become international leaders, such as Bonduelle, Roquette, Lesaffre and Paul (Holder);

And this list is far from being exhaustive!

THE FIGURES SPEAKS FOR THEMSELVES!

  • #4 region in France for agrifood jobs
  • +46K jobs
  • +750 businesses
  • €10 bn in sales
Ajinomoto
Barilla
Bigard
Blédina
Bonduelle
Coca-Cola
Danone
Findus
Fleury-Michon
Florette
Match
Otera
Pizza Paï
Paul
3 brasseurs
Auchan
Flunch
Chronodrive
Agapes

CLOSE-UP LOOK AT AGRIFOOD COMPANIES

Discover the full map of agrifood companies in Hauts-de-France.
See the map
CLOSE-UP LOOK AT AGRIFOOD COMPANIES

Access your clients
easily

Our strategic position gives you easy access to your markets.

EUROPE’S WEALTHIEST CONSUMER MARKET

Within 300 km—half a day by truck—you’ll find:

  • 78 million consumers
  • Among the richest populations in Europe

A HISTORICALLY-ROOTED LOCATION FOR RETAIL

Northern France – a historically-rooted location for retail – welcome HQs and purchasing groups of majors companies in supermarket distribution and restaurants.

Paul AGAPES 3 Brasseurs Auchan Chronodrive Flunch Match O'tera Pizza Paï

In the process of expanding your agrifood company?
Discover a dedicated team

Dorothée Dorothée
Rémi Rémi

Dorothée Lepoutre, Project Director, and Rémi Benamer, Business advisor, are specialised in agrifood expansion projects. They will facilitate your expansion in Hauts-de-France.

Contact them, describe your project and start your support as soon as possible!

Contact Dorothée & Rémi

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YOUR KNOW-HOW IS IN HAUTS-DE-FRANCE

A true agri-food powerhouse, the Hauts-de-France region has built up a strong, diversified industry. In this ever-growing market, entrepreneurs looking to expand will find a complete ecosystem and development opportunities.

Download the pdf

Access quality
raw materials easily

Agrifood development in Hauts-de-France relies on a strong farming sector, growing fast and benefiting from a know-how on multiple productions. Source your raw materials in Hauts-de-France and benefit from its quality: the made in france!

DAVID CARON, DIRECTOR OF THE HÄAGEN-DAZS FACTORY IN ARRAS, GIVES HIS TESTIMONY:

“The Arras site was chosen for 3 main reasons. The first one is related to the quality and availability of ingredients. In Arras, our key ingredients such as cream and milk are available and qualitative […] no matter when.

[…] Additionally, the “made in France” label is an undeniable advantage. On the French market, its evident. For the Asian market […], the fast that we produce luxury icecream, made in France, rehinforce the perception of quality.”

KEY FIGURES ON THE FRENCH AGRICULTURE

in sales from the farming production

+ € bn

in sales from the farming production

in sales from animal production

+ € bn

in sales from animal production

farms

+

farms

of cultivated surfaces

+ M Hectares

of cultivated surfaces

40 PRODUCTIONS IN THE 2023 FRENCH TOP 5

#1#2#3#4
potatoescarrotsmushroomrapeseed
wheatcauliflowerbroccolieggs
chicoréspinach-barley
brussel sproutsbeans--
endivehops--
onionsfibre linen--
peasleeks--
-Champagne--

Optimize your logistic
in Hauts-de-France

DUE TO A UNIQUE PLATEFORM IN HAUTS-DE-FRANCE, YOU CAN:

  • Import and export your products all around the world: thanks to its immediate proximity to major ports
  • manage your local logistics (in France and Europe): thanks to multimodal platforms and the motorway network
Optimisez votre logistique dans les Hauts-de-France

Benefit from a powerfull know-how
in research and agrifood development

Global players have made Hauts-de-France a center for agrifood R&D, backed by university research centers for new-product development and innovation. Market leaders including Bonduelle, Roquette, Lessaffre, Ingredia and Tate & Lyle have funded major R&D and innovation labs conducting ground-breaking research in nutrition and food products.

LEADING ACADEMIC RESEARCH CENTERS

unilasalle

Unilasalle is an agricultural engineering school with research units in food and non-food applications of agro-resources, plus an engineering unit focusing on research in nutrition and public health.

Lille

In Lille, the Pasteur Institute’s nutrition department leads applied research projects that include food formulation, nutritional claims and labeling, and nutrition audits.

logo

INRAE is France’s national agronomy research institute, specializing in agriculture, food and the environment.

logo-adrianor-nfi

Adrianor is an innovation center specializing in product development, formulation, ingredient research, and physical, chemical and sensory testing.

logo-isa-lille

Based in Lille, ISA is a school for agrifood engineers. It also conducts food-related R&D, focusing on formulation and on physical, chemical and sensory testing.

sas-pivert

SAS Pivert is an innovation-driven bioeconomics startup that uses a breakthrough approach to plant chemistry to accelerate the development and launch of new products and processes.

logo-improve

Improve is Europe’s first innovation hub for plant-protein research and development.

logo-extractis

Extractis is a technical center focusing exclusively on plant biomass extraction (plant-based biorefinery techniques).

CLOSE-UP LOOK ON… THE EURALIMENTAIRE INCUBATOR

Euralimentaire is a business incubator and accelerator built on a network of local innovators in agrifood, health, nutrition and logistics. Its mission is to generate business and create jobs by promoting fresh produce, especially local products. Since 2016 it has helped create over 18 start-ups and 70 jobs.

3 COMPETITIVE CLUSTERS

logo-nsl

The region’s leading network of professionals in industry, research and health, with a focus on innovation in health and nutrition.

logo-aquimer

Promoting seafood and aquaculture-based products.

logo-bfc

Bioeconomy for Change, is meant to reinforce competitiveness and industrialization of companies through innovation and by promoting the bioeconomy sector.

CLOSE-UP LOOK ON… AGRO-SPHÈRES, THE ASSOCIATION FOR AGRIFOOD COMPANIES

Agro-Sphères reunites all of the agri-food players from Hauts-de-France. It aims to develop the regional agri-food sector as well as job opportunities. Its mission is based on three strategic guidelines:

  • The animation and valuation of the regional sector
  • The support of companies
  • The promotion of the territory

Find an expansion solution
in Hauts-de-France

BENEFIT FROM COMPETITIVE COSTS

Real estate costs are a major factor when selecting a region and site. To make things easier, Nord France Invest offers a tool that lets you compare building rentals and land prices. It uses data identified by EY and compiled by our team.

Average cost of an industrial site

Want to know more?

Find the ideal site
to set-up

Agrifood industries
in Hauts-de-France