Aviko is considerably increasing the processing capacity of its chip factory in Chabei, China. The installation of a new processing line more than doubles capacity, and amounts to more than 100,000 tonnes of chips per year.
“The chip market is growing remarkably quickly in China,” Dick Zelhorst from Aviko Potato explains. “We want to take maximum advantage of that. Prosperity is increasing on the east coast in particular, and western eating habits are starting to appear.” The capacity expansion requires more than the installation of a new chip line. “In China, the raw material supply is the most critical factor for the success of a chip factory,” says Zelhorst. “You can’t make it on your own as a foreign party. That’s why we work with our local partner Snow Valley Agriculture for the potato production, and we’re very satisfied with that. We also have a joint venture with them for the exploitation of the factory.”
Local production
Besides chips, Zelhorst also sees Chinese interest for other potato products increasing gradually. “It’s not yet worth it to produce these products locally, so we export them from Europe. But local production will definitely be an option in the long term,” Zelhorst says.
Increase flake production
The production of flakes is increasing parallel to the capacity expansion in chips. “We make these flakes from the growing flow of residues from the chip factory,” Zelhorst says. For that matter, Aviko has produced flakes in a special flake factory in the province of Gansu for years. From this factory, which has been operational since 2006, major international customers in particular are supplied.
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