Victor Van Breedam, son of Louis, built the first maltings out of reinforced concrete in Belgium. Malt was produced for his own brewery as well as for surrounding breweries. They worked night and day. Due to the economic crisis and disappearing small breweries, it became clear that Het Anker had too much spare capacity. Charles Van Breedam, son of Victor, started experimenting with dry food and diet meals based on wheat and other dry substances as an alternative activity. During World War II more people are employed than strictly necessary, so they don’t fall subject to the compulsory labour of the Third Reich.