Ardo sets timetable for Groß-Enzersdorf plant closure

Ardo will end frozen-vegetable production at its Groß-Enzersdorf plant by the end of December and close the facility in August 2027, ORF Lower Austria reports.

The company says this year’s spinach, red cabbage and carrot harvest will be fully processed and packaged, with some products stored well into 2027. The pasta line is due to stop operating in spring, while logistics at the plant will be wound down in stages by the second quarter of next year.

The planned closure is already affecting farms in the Marchfeld agricultural region. Some have stopped sowing crops, including winter spinach, Lower Austria’s Chamber of Agriculture confirmed. The plant has Austria’s only production line for frozen spinach, and shortages of domestically grown leafy vegetables in supermarkets could emerge from mid-2027.

Talks between the federal and state governments on an alternative production solution are continuing. Officials say investors have expressed serious interest, but their names and further details have not been disclosed because of confidentiality agreements.

Ardo, a Belgian group, announced the closure in late September, citing the investment required and the site’s cost position. About 190 employees are affected, and a social plan is being prepared.