Potato News from Europe

Dutch TecSource B.V. ships a complete specialty food processing line to Northern France, including blancher, counterflow cooler, cooker, and buffer system. Pre-built for seamless integration, showcasing DTS’s tailor-made solutions and team excellence.

The Simplot Company, a privately held global food and agriculture company headquartered in Boise, Idaho, has completed its acquisition of Clarebout Potatoes, a leading European producer of frozen potato products based in Belgium.

Royal HZPC Group posts a strong 2024/25: revenue €525 M (USD 603 M), tonnage 1 M+, net profit €17.1 M (USD 19.8 M). Growers get €10.90 (USD 12.5) dividend. New varieties excel in French‑fry, chips, export and fresh markets, with acreage expected to grow further.

Mercados mundiales de papa bajo presión por exceso de oferta, clima y cuellos logísticos. Europa: producción abundante y precios bajos. Fuera: siembras tardías; valores bajos en Norteamérica, sobreoferta en Sudáfrica y dinamismo en Egipto y Pakistán.

Ukraine’s MAIS has started building the country’s first potato processing plant producing fries, flakes, and flour. Handling 180,000 t of potatoes annually, it aims to reduce imports, boost exports, and modernize Ukraine’s potato sector by 2027.

Kiremko, Idaho Steel & Reyco name Gerardo Chiaia as CEO and Kees van der Drift as CFO, marking a new growth phase under Investindustrial. The group unites to drive global innovation and leadership in food processing systems.

British farmers face mounting pressures amid economic uncertainty, policy shifts, and unpredictable weather — with nearly three-quarters expressing pessimism about the industry’s future, according to McCain Foods’ inaugural Farmdex Report.

AVR launches the finalized version of its legendary self-propelled harvester: the AVR Puma. With a sensational new design at all levels — the ultimate version of a legend, the final roar.

Belgium’s long-standing love affair with potatoes goes far beyond taste. Potatoes are central to the nation’s culinary identity, and the iconic frietkot - a fast-food stand dedicated to fries - is officially recognized as part of Belgium’s national intangible cultural heritage.

Produce Investments (PI) acquires Biofresh Safestore, a leader in fixed crop management. Combined with Restrain’s natural sprout suppression, the move expands PI’s tech portfolio, offering flexible, innovative storage solutions across Europe and beyond.

The classic Austrian potato variety 'Sieglinde' makes a comeback thanks to Priska and Erich Stekovics, who revived this nearly 100-year-old favorite. Now available again under SPAR as organic waxy potatoes for €1.99 (USD 2.15) at SPAR, EUROSPAR, and INTERSPAR.

Farming with Nature: Mapping the Growth Opportunity for UK Agriculture” maps 5.1 million hectares—almost one-third of the UK’s farmland—using geospatial data, on-farm assessments, and economic insights to guide sustainable and resilient farming practices.

Project Oppotunity completed the first CRISPR-Cas field trials of starch potatoes bred for late blight resistance, with test plots in Sweden and Denmark. Early results indicate stronger disease resistance and a very promising path to resilient crops.

The European RUCIP Committee held a webinar on October 17, 2025 to mark the launch of the RUCIP 2025 Rules, highlighting updates for simpler, faster, and fairer resolution of potato trade disputes across Europe.

The 'Ultimate Roast Potato' named after a much-loved film character is back on shelves after high demand. Branston says deliveries of its Nemo potato will rise 87 % this season versus 2024, bringing faster-cooking, great-tasting roasts to more homes!

A new survey by Young’s reveals 62% of Brits enjoy fish and chips on Fridays. Rising costs drive home-cooked versions, though 22% stick to takeaways. Ranked 2nd in UK food traditions, fish and chips remain a beloved Friday treat.

Germany’s POMORROW project will decode the genes of 6,357 potato varieties to advance breeding of drought-tolerant, pest-resistant and nutrient-efficient potatoes, supporting sustainable, climate-smart farming and securing future global food supplies.

Poland records its strongest potato harvest in years, surpassing 7.5 million tons. Favorable weather lifted yields, but growers face lower prices, quality challenges, and pressure for sustainable packaging solutions