Although we are based in Deerlijk, you can find us all around the world these days. VDS was established in 1966, but it soon became clear that export was the only way to go. Since then, our employees regularly cross the borders, journeying around Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South-East Asia like true explorers. Our ambition? Sustainable growth and further professionalisation. Exploring other horizons is an essential part of this. Because we are so proud of our international contacts and partnerships at VDS, we have decided to put one of them in the spotlight today. Meet the Cameroon-based SPC.

Société des Provenderies du Cameroun, also called SPC, is based in Bamendzi, in the suburbs of Bafoussam, where it produces approximately 80,000 tons of animal feed every year. As such, they are the largest producer of chicken feed in the republic, with a large market share. And VDS plays an essential role in the company’s growth.

Thirteen years ago, the people of SPC came knocking on our door, looking for a reliable partner. Jean Samuel Noutchogouin, the founder of SPC, had clearly set his sights on a Belgian company. Their trust in Belgian industrial know-how had grown incrementally after successful collaborations with fellow entrepreneurs. We were also eager to work with them. The mutual trust was immense, energised us, and marked the start of a long-term collaboration which also proved promising for the future.

Despite the distance and some cultural differences, the collaboration between VDS and SPC has always been seamless. After signing a cooperation agreement in 2008, we got down to work, growing rapidly. Production increased with leaps and bounds thanks to the development of the strategic raw material reserves, the optimisation of the various recipes and the introduction of high-quality feeds at affordable prices. This increased production paved the way for the substantial expansion of the plant in Cameroon. 

Obviously, we couldn’t just drop in for an inspection and be off again. We dispatched a few members of our great team to Cameroon to increase our impact. Today ‘our’ Bart Buytaert is the head of SPC, or the directeur général as he’s known in Cameroon. Besides general management, he is also tasked with the formulation of the feeds based on local raw materials. But some of our Deerlijk employees also travel to Africa regularly. We give talks and hold seminars on feeds, animal diseases and new production techniques, in addition to visiting SPC’s customers.

In 2016, SPC invested heavily in the modernisation of its production unit. It was the only way to cope with the increased demand while continuing to focus on quality. Mission accomplished! At the time of writing, SPC has a workforce of 600 employees and 400,000 laying hens, and controls one-third of the market in Cameroon. Moreover, they succeed in involving the local population in the production process, making SPC a real close-knit family company, much like VDS. SPC is an established name in the chicken industry. At the same time, the company likes to increase its playing field, branching out to pigs, horses and even fish. Who knows what the future will bring…