This Friday, the MR President visited the company “BRU”, which owns the Spa water brand, in Stoumont. The aim of the visit was to gain a better understanding of how this iconic natural mineral water production site works in the heart of the Ardennes. As a subsidiary of the Spadel group, the company has for several decades operated a “pouhon”, a naturally sparkling spring, protected by a vast area of several thousand hectares, guaranteeing the quality of BRU water, widely present on Belgian tables.
This visit highlighted the local expertise, the historical roots of Bru-Chevron in Lorcé-Stoumont and the economic role of the site, which produces several tens of millions of litres of mineral water a year thanks to its production lines and a team of specialised staff. Discussions on site also covered the place of industrial family businesses such as Spadel in the Walloon economic fabric and the importance of combining economic development, employment and respect for the exceptional natural heritage surrounding the site.
Finally, the meeting was an opportunity to address future challenges: sustainable management of water resources in the context of climate change, ongoing reduction of the site's environmental footprint, innovation in processes and packaging, and maintaining competitiveness in the face of strong international competition. Alongside Georges-Louis Bouchez, the dialogue with management underlined the need to support companies capable of combining industrial performance, ecological transition and the appeal of a region whose reputation extends far beyond its borders.