Lotus Bakeries has announced that it will invest in setting up a new manufacturing facility in the US, to expand its biscuit production capacity.
Besides, the company will build a new production hall in Belgium to meet the growing demand for its Lotus Biscoff, a flavored caramelized cookie, in the US.
The new processing plant in the US will manufacture the Lotus Biscoff cookies, which have only been produced in Lembeke, Belgium for the past 84 years.
The baking company is considering to establish the new US manufacturing facility in Mebane in North Carolina.
It said the conversations with local authorities over the project are in an advanced stage.
Lotus Bakeries CEO Jan Boone said: "Having a Lotus Biscoff plant in the United States is a milestone for our company. For the first time since our foundation in 1932, Lotus Biscoff will be produced outside of Lembeke, Belgium. Lotus Bakeries and all its employees are extremely proud of this expansion in the world's largest consumer market.”
The company plans to start the construction on the US facility in the first half of next year and expects it to become operational in 2019.
Brands of the bakery chain include Lotus, Lotus Dinosaurus, Lotus Biscoff, Peijnenburg, Lotus Suzy, Annas, Snelle Jelle, Trek, Nakd, BEAR and Urban Fruit.
Apart from Belgium, Lotus Bakeries also has manufacturing facilities in the Netherlands, Sweden and France. It has 17 company owned sales organizations spread across Europe, America and Asia while having a workforce of around 1,350.
Listed on the Euronext Brussels stock market, the baking company had announced its half-year report for 2016 which showed a 31% turnover with revenue growing to €256m.
Last year, Lotus Bakeries earned revenue of €411.6m.
