Lactalis has confirmed its plan to invest €3m ($3.2m) in one of its manufacturing facilities in Colombia, specifically in Medellín, Antioquia. The facility produces UHT milk, cream, and dairy desserts and the investment is aimed at modernizing the plant. The company intends to increase the capacity for UHT milk storage, transition to automated machinery for pasteurized dairy products, and update disinfection and sterilization lines, as well as move heating systems from carbon-emitting boilers to gas.
This investment initiative was revealed in an interview with Juan Velásquez, the CEO of Lactalis’ operations in Colombia. He mentioned that this €3m investment in Medellín is part of a larger €4m project for Colombia this year. Furthermore, Lactalis has committed to investing an additional €5m annually across its sites in Colombia.
Aside from the Medellín facility, Lactalis operates powdered milk plants in Cerete, Córdoba, and Chia, Cundinamarca, producing chilled dairy products, fresh and powdered milk, and cream. The company supplies popular brands such as Parmalat, Proleche, Zymil, and private labels, with President and Kraft dairy brands being imported into Colombia.
According to Velásquez, Lactalis reported a turnover of 600bn pesos ($148.7m) last year and aims to increase it by 8% this year. The company is also planning to invest €4m in the industrial and quality areas this year, with a long-term strategic plan to inject €5m annually into Colombia. This strategic investment is essential to match the standards observed in Europe, focusing on machinery, quality, and training.
The targeted increase in turnover in the coming year will be driven by the introduction of new products and the planned growth in sales of the President brand. Overall, Lactalis is dedicated to strengthening its presence in Colombia’s dairy market through continuous investments and strategic initiatives.
