Nieuwkerke (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Workers at Clarebout Potatoes (3,000 employees) continue striking at Nieuwkerke, Warneton, Mouscron, and Dunkirk over bonuses. Jan Clarebout will pay €500–€1,000 despite talks.
As Nieuwsblad News reported, workers at the West Flemish potato processor Clarebout Potatoes will continue their strike over the weekend. The walkout affects the company’s plants in Nieuwkerke, Warneton, Mouscron, and Dunkirk, France.
The strike has already lasted more than a week. It comes as the company is being sold to an American investor in a multi-billion euro deal. Employees are demanding a special bonus because of the sale.
The company first offered €500 net per worker, but the offer was rejected. Clarebout then presented a new plan. Under this plan, employees with 10 years of service would receive €750, and those with 20 years would get €1,000. Workers also rejected this proposal.
What is causing 3,000 Clarebout potato workers to strike in West Flanders?
Despite the ongoing strike, company owner Jan Clarebout has said he will pay the bonuses regardless. He said the company wants to recognise its employees even as the sale moves forward. Clarebout Potatoes is well known for its French fry production. The company now faces the challenge of handling employee demands and completing the sale.
The strike at Clarebout Potatoes will continue over the weekend, but the company’s plants are not completely shut down. In Nieuwkerke, one of the 2 production lines continue running on Saturday, Oct 11, 2025. At the Waasten site, 2 of the 7 production lines will remain operational. Sophie Serrurier, secretary of ABVV Horval, confirmed that some activity is still taking place.
Clarebout Potatoes is a major player in the frozen French fries market, especially for private label products. The company has operations in Belgium and France and employs around 3,000 people.
Similar disputes have happened in Belgium’s frozen fries sector before. In May 2021, protests broke out in Wallonia over Clarebout Potatoes’ factory expansion. Residents and groups like Greenpeace opposed large-scale potato farming, citing environmental damage and pesticide use. Clarebout also faced tensions with potato growers during the 2018 drought, when contract terms and pricing caused disputes.
