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Spain: Kraft Heinz expands its Alfaro plant

28/03/2025

François-Xavier Branthôme
THE KRAFT HEINZ COMPANY
Spain,
WPTC
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Kraft Heinz's 70 million Euro investment in the Alfaro plant strengthens its position in Europe, enhances its production capacity, supports the growth of its Heinz brand, and contributes to the local economy while adopting sustainable agricultural practices.

Kraft Heinz has significantly boosted its production capabilities in Europe with a new €70 million processing plant in Alfaro, Spain. This investment, spread over three years, has increased the factory's output by 50%, marking a major step in the company's growth strategy in the European sauces market.

The Alfaro plant, located in northern Spain, has been upgraded with state-of-the-art high-speed filling lines and a new pilot plant at the Nijmegen research and development center. These improvements position the factory as one of Kraft Heinz's most efficient in Europe, enabling it to meet the rising demand for its Heinz sauces.

The Kraft Heinz Company's Alfaro factory in Spain. 
Image credit: Kraft Heinz

This strategic investment highlights the importance of the Heinz brand within Kraft Heinz and supports the company's ambitious plans to expand its sauces portfolio. Willem Brandt, President of European and Pacific Developed Markets, emphasized that the Alfaro factory's expansion is crucial for becoming the leading sauce provider in Europe, both for home and out-of-home consumption.

The modernized plant is equipped with cutting-edge technology that allows Kraft Heinz to quickly adapt to evolving culinary trends and consumer preferences, including the growing demand for healthier options like Heinz mayonnaise. In addition to producing a range of Heinz sauces, the plant processes 25,000 tons of locally grown tomatoes annually, primarily for the Orlando brand, a leader in the Spanish market.

The expansion has also created 39 new permanent jobs in the La Rioja region, contributing to the local economy. Spain is a key production hub for Heinz in Europe, and this investment strengthens the company's ability to achieve its goal of leading the future of food.

Kraft Heinz has also implemented a new cultivation technique in Spain to increase yields while enhancing soil biodiversity. This technique, known as cover cropping, involves planting crops to improve soil quality and harvest yields. Through improved management of irrigation, nutrients, crop protection, and soil preparation, Kraft Heinz has doubled its yields in Spain, according to Monica Souza, the company's vice president for procurement.

Some complementary data

 
Sources: themanufacturer.com, foodnavigator.com

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