Major investment
On September 26, the Vandeputte group opened a €10 million production facility—its first in France—in Hesdin-l’Abbé, near Boulogne-sur-Mer in Hauts-de-France. The site includes 5 hectares of land and buildings covering10,000 sq meters, where 12 employees produce eco-friendly soaps, detergents and other cleaning products. Operations are off to a strong start, with 35,000 units rolling off the line every day, and plans call for staff to reach 30 by 2020.
Vandeputte’s #1 market: France
With soaps and detergents accounting for 60% of revenue, the Belgian group’s decision to set up in France was no accident. True, its head office in Mouscron is not far from the French border. But opening a factory in Hauts-de-France will enable the company to stake out stronger positions in France. So while it could have expanded operations at its Belgian plant, Vandeputte preferred to focus on the French market.“ It was only fair ” notes co-manager Pierre Vandeputte, given that many large retailers making up the group’s client portfolio are based in France.
Green goes high tech
Designed for sustainability, Vandeputte’s new premises are in the Landacre industrial park—the first site in Europe to win ISO 14 001 certification for environmental management. They take the group’s commitment to preserving the environment a step further; its products already carry Europe’s Eco-label and are certified by Ecocert. This green commitment is rounded out by ultra-modern equipment at the plant. Thanks to Vandeputte’s cutting-edge R&D team, product formulations and packaging are fine-tuned to client demands and backed by rigorous quality controls at all stages, from raw materials to end product. Strategy is centered on client satisfaction, meeting requirements to the full on time and on budget. Vandeputte is a family-owned and operated company managed by three brothers: Luc, Christian and Pierre. Founded 130 years ago in Mouscron (Belgium), it generates annual sales of €130 million and employs 230 people.
Sources : la voix du nord, l’usine nouvelle, France bleu