Meet the family
About us
Family-centred framework with a short decision-making process
Darta offers a full range of fresh frozen products such as vegetables, fruits, herbs and ready-made (side) dishes. Our strengths are our family-centred framework with a short decision-making process and our professional employees, which systematically allow us to offer high-quality customer service and flexibility in a fast evolving market. At Darta, we put the customer at the heart of everything we do.
As a 100% family company, it is in our DNA to keep investing in people, our production technology and product innovation. Nature and the environment are two central elements in this matter.
We employ more than 1,000 people and export our products to more than 100 countries.
History
Since 1988
1988
founding of the company by Jean-Pierre De Backere and Johan Talpe
1997
construction of a new plant in Portugal
2005
construction of a new plant in Belgium for products with added value
2016
second generation takes over the reins
2018
construction of a new plant in Yorkshire, England
2019
takeover of Agrifood Italy
2021
acquisition of Sole di Sicilia
2022
construction of wind turbine in Belgium
Locations
Darta thrives all over Europe
Our aim is to bring the harvested crops from the field to the production site as quickly as possible. That is why our sites are strategically located in 5 of Europe's most fertile agricultural regions.
Belgium
Our headquarters in Ardooie is also Darta's main production site. It is located in the heart of Flanders, a region in which no less than 30% of all European frozen vegetables are produced. Here we produce peas, beans, root vegetables, leaf vegetables, cabbages, onions and many other products.
United Kingdom
We built one of the UK's greenest food processing facilities in the historical English country of Yorkshire. This sustainable step forward was made possible thanks to our collaboration with GWE Biogas and Swaythorpe growers. Darta Yorkshire is known for its delicious Yorkshire peas and harvests but produces beans and root vegetables as well.
Portugal
Our Alentejo site specialises in Mediterranean crops such as broccoli, peppers, tomatoes and strawberries. The Portuguese climate allows us to grow beans, peas and courgettes at different times than in the Belgian growing process. This allows us to always guarantee a constant supply of all this delicious produce.
Italy
The Fucino Valley in Abruzzo provides the fertile soil for our high-quality "Made in Italy" products. We grow and process various vegetables and herbs there, ranging from premium spinach to cime di rapa, fennel, basil, parsley and so on.
Sicily
In Sicily, we lovingly harvest our southern vegetables, such as aubergines, courgettes and peppers, in a traditional way. They then go straight from the field into the grill oven and are frozen fresh at our local production site on the same day. High-value products such as artichokes are also grown in this region.
About our customers
We deliver worldwide to various market sectors:
Retail
Food service
Our brands
Our brand
A wide range of products marketed under our own high-quality brand.
Private label
Specially developed products and food solutions marketed under the customer’s brand.
Customised products
Solutions that offer added value and convenience as a starting point.