Belgian Tomato Giant Expands to Morocco Amid Energy Crisis and Market Growth

The company, known for its 89 hectares of greenhouses in Hoogstraten (province of Antwerp), has just inaugurated a 12.8-hectare greenhouse in Morocco, in the Agadir region. A first for a Flemish company, even though the sector has already forged partnerships with the Kingdom during the energy crisis of 2020-2021.

"We still see growth opportunities in the market," explains Loes van der Velden, sales and marketing director at Den Berk Délice, to Vilt.be. The objective is not to substitute Moroccan production for Belgian production, but rather to complement it. While Den Berk Délice will continue to specialize in high-end varieties grown under artificial lighting in Belgium, the Moroccan greenhouse will be dedicated to the production of bulk red cherry tomatoes. "Our production in Morocco allows us to grow delicious tomatoes in winter at market-compliant prices," says Loes van der Velden.

The Moroccan greenhouse, "different from those in our country," is covered with a tarp and equipped with insect nets. Tom Beyers, the cultivation manager, regularly travels there to train the local team and ensure compliance with Den Berk Délice quality standards.

This establishment in Morocco is part of a search for solutions to the challenges facing tomato production in Flanders. High energy costs and political uncertainties regarding the use of fossil fuels are encouraging producers to explore new avenues, as confirmed by Lu Adriaensen, member of the board of directors of the Hoogstraten Cooperative and greenhouse producer.

While BelOrta, a vegetable and fruit sales cooperative, prefers to "bet on the local" without commenting on Moroccan competition, Belgian cooperatives recognize the competitiveness of Moroccan tomatoes, particularly for the more expensive varieties that better absorb transportation costs.

Den Berk Délice confirms this analysis and excludes the production of cluster tomatoes in Morocco. "The cultivation of cluster tomatoes requires precise management of the greenhouse climate. For this, our closed greenhouses are ideal, but the more open greenhouses of Southern Europe and Morocco are not," concludes Loes van der Velden.