The Walloon company Belourthe, which specialises in infant cereals, has just signed an important contract with the Iranian company Vitana, which manufactures baby biscuits. It plans to export 600 tonnes of cereal annually to Iran, under the Ninolac brand. Over the next three years, this market could generate sales revenues of 1 million euros, as well as a dozen new jobs.

140 Belgian companies took part in a trade mission held from 29 October to 2 November 2016 in Tehran, where they could arrange meetings with Iranian businesspeople to get a feel for the business opportunities in the country. Iran is currently looking to rejoin the global economy since the sanctions which had been imposed on the country were comprehensively lifted at the start of the year.

With 80 million inhabitants and a high birth rate, the Iranian market has significant potential for a company like Belourthe, whose core business is infant nutrition. The firm, which is based in Hamoir, markets cereals which are used to make baby food for children aged 6 months to 3 years. Belourthe will therefore be exporting semi-finished products to Iran, to the tune of 600 tonnes per year, or 1.5 million boxes.

This is a sweet success for the Hamoir-based company, given that Nestlé closed its own baby food manufacturing plant in the town in 2006, before relocating its activities to China and... Iran. Berlourthe was subsequently set up 8 years ago when director Vincent Crahay decided to buy the plant. Ironically, this Walloon company will now be competing with the same baby food giant on Iranian territory.