The Vandemoortele Group underwent a major strategic reorientation, abandoning the production of half products and redirecting its focus of attention entirely on the three business segments in which the Group was able to assume a market leadership position in Europe, i.e. soy products, frozen dough products and margarines & fats.

Vandemoortele Group reached terms with Cargill and Sofiproteol Group which saw the group's seed processing and seed refinery operations transferred to Cargill and Sofiproteol Group. In doing so, Vandemoortele Group in effect was now entirely free to fully concentrate on the added value segment of packed consumer goods.

Vandemoortele continued to expand its market share in the frozen bakery segment through the takeover of Croustifrance in France.

In order to meet the demands of the rapid growth of the soy foods market, Alpro set about constructing a new plant for soy drinks in the UK.

The potent growth of Vandemoortele Bakery Products and the rising demand for frozen bakery products again necessitated further production capacity as well as investments in the latest technologies. In 2000, a new plant was inaugurated in Eeklo, Belgium.

Vandemoortele NV (Belgium) and STAR SpA (Italy) signed an agreement covering the takeover of the operations of STAR's "industrial division" by Vandemoortele Italia SpA. The agreement served to significantly reinforce Vandemoortele's overall position in Mediterranean Europe, especially in Italy. STAR is a major player in the wholesale distribution of the Italian food industry.

Vandemoortele Bakery Products reached terms on the purchase of all Alain Sobrie S.A. shares. A. Sobrie S.A. is based in Ghislenghien (Belgium), producing frozen patisserie on a bavarois and 'biscuit' basis. Over the past few years, Vandemoortele Bakery Products had already been marketing the Sobrie range of products in Belgium and was now taking over the business as a whole.

In 2000, Vandemoortele Group and Fuji Oil reached terms on an agreement under which Vandemoortele agreed to sell its 50% share in NV Vamo-Fuji based in Ertvelde to Fuji Oil from Osaka. To Vandemoortele, the sale was a further out-turn of its strategic decision to step away from the refinery business in order to fully concentrate on its packed operations.

In July 2001, Vandemoortele went on to take over the business operations of Alimas. Alimas, a margarine and fats manufacturer located in Padova, effected an annual turnover of around 20 million €. This acquisition was part of the expansion strategy mounted by the Margarine & Fats Division in the industrial and bakery sectors, thereby enhancing Vandemoortele's market position in Italy.

In March 2002, Vandemoortele bought Lasem Alimentacion (Terrassa) from the Lasem group. Lasem Alimentacion effects a turnover of around 50 million € in the area of ingredients for the bakery and patisserie industries. This acquisition served to hugely enhance the leadership position held by Vandemoortele in the market of industrial and artisanal customers in Mediterranean Europe.

Cargill and Vandemoortele reached terms on a principle agreement in which Cargill would acquire full ownership of the associated Oil Packers (aOP) joint venture and Vandemoortele would take back its retail business in turn.