Ardo builds new distribution center and rolls out new products.

Ardo NV, the Ardooie, Belgium-headquartered frozen vegetable specialist, is building a 35-meter high European storage and distribution center next to its headquarters. Storage capacity for 32,000 pallets will be available upon completion.

With ten loading bays and a completely automated stock management system, it will take only 30 minutes to fully load a truck with fresh-frozen vegetables and fruit. The fully automated, centrally located facility will concentrate on the north European market and help Ardo provide more efficient service to customers by concentrating stocks in one location.

Construction of the facility will also relieve traffic on rural roads in the vicinity. Its sophisticated cooling system is designed to cut unnecessary energy losses. The height of the building also reduces the amount of wall space, further saving on energy consumption, as there is less potential for cool air to be lost.

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Meanwhile, the company continues to introduce innovative products. Among the latest are:

* Rainbow carrots. This mix of white, yellow and orange slices of carrot is completely new. Ardo blends the seeds of three different types of carrot before sowing, and then lets nature take its course. The various colors are harvested together.

* Sweet potatoes. Already popular in North and South America, they are now gaining popularity among Europeans. Ardo offers them pre-cooked and cut in the traditional way to save consumers preparation time, as no peeling is required. They are suitable for sweet and sour dishes, but equally good grated or mashed.

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* Grilled vegetables in aluminum dishes. Two new recipes are Grilled Paprika Parrilla Red & Yellow and Country Grill.