Carrot Processing at TopFresh: Two Decades of Growth with Sormac

Based in Kraggenburg, the Netherlands, TopFresh specialises in the cultivation and processing of carrots, supplying both processed and unprocessed products to different markets. Its range includes washed, cut and peeled carrots—both conventional and organic—as well as parsley root and parsnip. Thanks to its proximity to its own growing areas, TopFresh is able to supply its assortment year-round.

Founded in 2004 by Peter Matthijssen, the company was created with a clear ambition: to grow and process carrots with improved taste and consistent quality. In 2025, TopFresh marks its 20th anniversary, reaching this milestone with 125 employees, 525 hectares of cultivation fields and several production lines equipped with processing solutions from Sormac.

Short lead times from field to packaging

TopFresh harvests carrots for eleven months per year and operates with a strong focus on minimising lead time from field to final packaging. This approach allows the company to handle large volumes while maintaining freshness and quality throughout the process.

Over the years, the company has steadily expanded its processing capacity. Initial investments included basic cutting equipment, followed by carrot peelers and toppers. A major step was taken in 2015 with the installation of a roller grading system and three complete processing lines for baby carrots, enabling higher throughput and more precise product specifications.

Reliability as a key factor in processing operations

Since 2013, Managing Director Annet van Steen has been closely involved in TopFresh’s growth. According to the company, reliability and consistent performance of processing equipment are essential to meeting customer expectations and avoiding supply disruptions.

Annet van Steen says:

“Reliability and quality are essential. The last thing we want is to tell our customers we cannot deliver. In that regard, Sormac has truly made the difference” .

For TopFresh, the long-term relationship with Sormac has been built on machine performance and service support. The equipment has been in operation for many years, with remote service capabilities allowing technicians to monitor systems and provide assistance when needed.

Serving multiple markets with in-house processing

TopFresh manages the entire process internally, from cultivation to packaged product. In recent years, the company has expanded across different carrot segments. While the focus initially lay on Imperator and baby carrots, demand for regular and unprocessed carrots has grown significantly, creating two parallel markets: processed and unprocessed products.

Consumer demand for convenience has also shaped operations. Pre-cut and washed carrots are increasingly used in meal kits and ready-to-use applications, where appearance, size uniformity and consistency are critical. Sorting and grading technology plays a central role in meeting these requirements, enabling customer-specific products and quality assessment during processing.

Carrots with minor visual defects are peeled and further processed, while residual streams such as peels and cutting waste are supplied as animal feed. The company aims to further upgrade these residual flows wherever possible, moving from feed applications to food uses.

Continuous development and future opportunities

Looking ahead, both companies see opportunities in further digitalisation of processing operations. Continuous data analysis of machinery performance could support predictive maintenance and help optimise production planning. Water savings, both in processing and cleaning operations, are also identified as an area for further collaboration.

By combining large-scale cultivation with in-house processing and reliable technology, TopFresh has built a production model focused on efficiency and quality. The long-standing collaboration with Sormac has supported this development, enabling the company to supply fresh, high-quality carrots to the market for over two decades.

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