This Tuesday, 16 June, Georges-Louis Bouchez visited Kasteel Brouwerij Vanhonsebrouck in Izegem. The owner, Xavier, representing the fifth generation of the family business, showed him around the new Bierkasteel. This was already the third time in two weeks that the MR President had travelled to West Flanders.
Kasteel, Filou, Bacchus, St-Louis, Brigand: everyone knows these popular Belgian beer brands, enjoyed all over the world. They are all brewed in the ultra-modern complex in Izegem. The brewery employs 145 staff, generates a turnover of €65 million, exports to more than 60 countries and produces 19.3 million litres of beer every year, the equivalent of around 64 million glasses served.
Thanks to their investments in the Bierkasteel, Xavier Vanhonsebrouck and his wife Lindsay have doubled their brewery's production capacity. Visitors from all over the world come to admire their life's work. The Bierkasteel is not limited to guided tours. In addition to the visitor centre, there is an authentic pub, a brasserie, an event space and a beer shop offering all the house's brands and products. In short, a genuine destination.
Xavier Vanhonsebrouck, CEO Michiel Clyncke and the brewery's staff showed Georges-Louis Bouchez the entire production chain. From Izegem, the beer is shipped in bottles and cans to every continent. The Netherlands and France are among the main markets, as are several countries in North America and Asia. Traditional Belgian beer thus continues to put our country on the world map.
Investments and growth
On the occasion of Georges-Louis Bouchez's visit, Xavier had organised a lunch at Michelles Pub & Brasserie with influential business leaders from the region. They discussed entrepreneurship, investment, growth, employment and taxation in our country with the MR President. Once again, the welcome in West Flanders was particularly warm.
Georges-Louis Bouchez is a welcome guest in the province. Last week he debated in Diksmuide in front of four hundred people with Jean-Marie Dedecker. A few days earlier, he had met a group of committed entrepreneurs in Ardooie. This Friday, 19 June, he will give a talk at the Maritieme Kring in Zeebrugge. And in early July, he will speak in the showroom of DCT, a car dealership in Wielsbeke.