Royal A-ware is working on plans to build a cheese factory at its existing site in Pajottegem in Belgium.

In a joint statement with the local council of Pajottegem, the Netherlands-based dairy group said an “initial feasibility study has yielded positive results”.

The company is preparing to submit a planning application over the coming months.

Citing the Pajottegem site's central location in Flemish Brabant, Royal A-ware said the proposed plant would focus on local sourcing.

“Royal A-ware is constantly exploring ways to develop its production capacity in a future-proof manner,” the company said. “In doing so, the family-run business considers it important to explore opportunities for processing milk from local dairy farmers on-site.”

Submitting the planning application does not guarantee the project will go ahead, Royal A-ware noted.

A decision will be made only after planning approval is secured and the company has completed an assessment of the business case, it added.

No timeline has been set for the project.

Royal A-ware supplies cheese, butter and yogurt to retail, foodservice and industrial customers.

The company employs more than 5,300 people across operations in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and the US, generating a turnover of €4.4bn ($5.1bn) in 2025.

The potential new factory follows a string of acquisitions by the family-owned group this year.

In August, Royal A-ware agreed to acquire Dutch butter specialist LaBan Foods, a private-label supplier and owner of the Laban and LaViré brands.

In July, the group agreed to take a 35% stake in Dutch goat’s cheese producer Amalthea from parent company Ausnutria Dairy, taking over domestic and international marketing for the brand.

The same month, Royal A-ware struck a deal to acquire Spanish cheese manufacturer and distributor Grupo TGT.

That move built on the business's February purchase of Spanish distributor Global Dairy Ventures.