Dutch food giant Farm Frites to invest $300 million in Victoria for new APAC headquarters and manufacturing facility

Dutch frozen-food manufacturer Farm Frites has announced a landmark $300 million investment in regional Victoria, selecting Australia as the new home for its Asia-Pacific headquarters and first local manufacturing facility.

The company, one of the world’s largest producers of potato-based products, will build a major processing plant in Dooen, near Horsham in the Wimmera region. The site will be strategically located beside the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Hub, providing excellent road and rail connections to growers, suppliers, and export markets across the Asia-Pacific.

A milestone for Dutch–Australian business ties

Founded in 1971 and headquartered in Oudenhoorn, the Netherlands, Farm Frites operates in over 100 countries with production facilities across Europe, Egypt, and Argentina. The decision to expand into Victoria marks a significant step in the company’s global growth strategy, and a major win for Dutch–Australian trade and investment relations.

“This investment demonstrates the strength of Dutch innovation and agricultural expertise,” said NCCA President Eelco Lijding. “Farm Frites is a household name in Europe, and its arrival in Australia highlights the confidence Dutch companies have in Victoria’s manufacturing capability, workforce, and infrastructure.”

The new facility will process up to 250,000 tonnes of Australian-grown potatoes annually, reducing reliance on imports while strengthening local supply chains. Once operational, it is expected to create around 250 full-time jobs, alongside additional construction and logistics opportunities in the region.

Why Victoria?

According to Farm Frites Australia General Manager Kieran Prestidge, the company chose Dooen for its ideal location “between some of the best potato-growing regions in Australia,” supported by strong transport links and proximity to skilled regional communities.

Victoria’s established agrifood manufacturing ecosystem, abundant high-quality produce, and streamlined government approvals were also key factors in securing the investment. The Victorian Government’s Development Facilitation Program provided fast-track planning approval to accelerate construction and ensure the project’s early start.

Regional benefits and local impact

The arrival of Farm Frites is set to boost regional economic activity across the Wimmera, bringing long-term employment, training, and export opportunities to western Victoria. Local councils and growers have welcomed the investment, describing it as a “transformational project” that will anchor a new era of food manufacturing in the region.

The plant will complement Victoria’s strong agricultural heritage, with locally grown potatoes forming the cornerstone of its production. The move also signals a deepening of Dutch agricultural technology and sustainability practices within the Australian context.

Strengthening the Dutch–Australian partnership

Farm Frites joins a growing list of Dutch companies expanding in Australia, reflecting the increasing depth of bilateral trade and investment between the two nations. The project demonstrates how Dutch expertise in agrifood innovation, logistics, and manufacturing can align with Australia’s natural strengths in production and regional development.

For the NCCA and its members, the announcement underscores the opportunities for collaboration between Dutch technology suppliers, engineering firms, and logistics providers with the new Farm Frites operation. It also highlights Victoria’s growing reputation as a strategic base for European companies seeking to serve the wider Asia-Pacific region.

Scheduled opening in 2027

Construction of the Dooen facility is expected to commence soon, with operations scheduled to begin in 2027. The site will not only serve Australian consumers but also act as a regional hub for exporting high-quality potato products across Asia and the Pacific.

Farm Frites’ arrival reinforces the enduring strength of Dutch innovation abroad and the potential of the Netherlands–Australia partnership to deliver high-value manufacturing, sustainable agriculture, and long-term regional growth.