The project marks the next step in the group’s strategy to maintain and expand its manufacturing presence in Vietnam and across Asia.

Under the plan, the expansion will raise the factory’s capacity to around 20,000 tons of products a year, double the current level. Construction is scheduled to start in late January 2026 and be completed by March 2027.

Once completed, the facility will continue to serve the domestic market while exporting to several regional markets, including Southeast Asia, China, Japan and the Middle East.

The project also includes investment in a pilot line for research, innovation and product development, allowing formulas and processes to be tested at a scale close to actual production. According to Bel, the goal is to shorten the time needed to bring new products to market and meet diverse taste and nutritional requirements in export destinations.

Once operations stabilize, the expansion is expected to create additional local jobs, with the workforce projected to increase from about 188 employees at present to nearly 400 over the longer term.

Bel entered the Vietnamese market in 2011 and put its first production plant into operation in 2015 with an investment of nearly EUR 13 million. Vietnam is currently one of the group’s manufacturing bases in Asia, alongside facilities in China and Indonesia.

Bel operates in the food sector, focusing on dairy and processed food products. In 2024, the group reported revenue of about EUR 3.7 billion, equivalent to roughly US$4 billion, with 30 plants and a distribution network covering more than 120 countries.

European firms look to Vietnam for sustainable supply chains

Around 300 delegations from 60 countries will be looking for suppliers at the Vietnam International Sourcing 2025 expo to be held in HCM City from September 4 to 6, including many renowned European companies.