ConAgra Foods and its European joint venture partner Meijer are pumping US$150m into their potato producing plant in the Netherlands.

The investment will add a second production line to the Lamb Weston-Meijer plant in Bergen op Zoom and increase the capacity to make French fries and other frozen potato products. The move is expected to add 50 new jobs. The line is expected to be operational by mid-2016.

ConAgra said the move was consistent with its strategy to grow its international business.

“ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston is well positioned to meet customers’ emerging market growth through our highly efficient, well-established dual sourcing model supplying our customer base with frozen potato products from both North America and Europe,” said Paul Maass, president private brands and commercial foods, ConAgra Foods. “In addition, local potato sourcing and production will play an important role in the future for select countries, such as China, where we expect the most growth.”