Darta
- Type
- Food & Ingredient Manufacturer
- Location
- Ardooie, Belgium
- Industries
- Food ingredients & products, Food reformulation, Food safety & quality
- Domains
- Plant based primary products, Processed food products, Ready-to-eat meals, Confectionery & snacks, Frozen foods
- Technologies
- Processing, IQF freezing
About Darta
Darta is a Belgian family-owned company founded in 1988 and headquartered in Ardooie, Belgium. It develops, processes, and commercialises fresh frozen products, with a portfolio that spans vegetables, fruits, herbs, and ready-made side dishes and meals. The company serves industry, retail, and foodservice customers worldwide, positioning itself as a flexible partner that combines product innovation, convenience, and quality.
Darta presents itself as a customer-focused, fast-moving business built around short decision-making processes, professional employees, and long-term collaboration. It emphasizes its ability to deliver custom-made solutions, practical packaging, and products that are quick and easy to prepare, while maintaining a strong focus on food safety, quality, and sustainability.
Core Values
- Sustainability: Sustainability is described as central to everything Darta does, guiding daily operations and its broader strategy across the value chain.
- Customer focus: The company places the customer at the heart of its business and works closely with clients to develop practical, differentiated solutions.
- Innovation: Darta continuously invests in product innovation, new technologies, and new product concepts to respond to changing market demands.
- Quality and food safety: The company emphasizes strict quality control, food safety, and consistent standards from farm to fork.
- Partnership: Darta highlights long-lasting relationships with growers, suppliers, and customers as essential to sustainable development and reliable supply.
Unique Aspects
- Family-owned with fast decision-making: Darta says its family-centred structure enables short decision-making processes, flexibility, and close customer service.
- European production footprint: The company operates five establishments across Belgium, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Italy, allowing it to source and process crops in strategically located agricultural regions.
- CO2-neutral plant in Yorkshire: Darta highlights its UK site as a CO2-neutral plant, developed with local partners Swaythorpe Growers and GWE Biogas.
- Strong scale in frozen produce: The company states that it employs more than 1,000 people, exports to more than 100 countries, and works with more than 600 farmers.
- Added-value processing capabilities: Darta’s strengths include advanced cutting, mixing, coating, grilling, and packaging capabilities that support convenience and customised product development.