Valio, a Finnish food major, has announced plans to invest €60m ($65.3m) in cheese production at a domestic plant. The Lapinlahti factory will be expanded by 2,000 square meters to include new cheesemaking equipment, a new packaging operation, and a new power sub-station and back-up power. This investment is intended to replace the current manufacturing apparatus, which has reached the end of its technical service life. Construction work will begin in the summer, with a new production line expected to be operational by the spring of 2026.
According to Aleksi Ylitalo, director of the Lapinlahti plant, “With this significant investment, we secure the continuity of cheese production for a long time to come. In practice, this means that our popular gourmet cheeses, ‘Valio Keisarinna’, everyday favorite ‘Valio Hyvä suomalainen Arki’, and dozens of other cheeses will continue to be found on store shelves.”
The investment will also reduce waste generated in production and boost the cheesemaking capacity of the Lapinlahti plant. Lapinlahti is one of Valio’s largest facilities, receiving about a quarter of Valio’s raw milk, totaling approximately 415 million liters per year. The factory primarily produces cheeses for the domestic market but also exports some products to countries including the US. In addition to cheese, the Lapinlahti plant produces milk powder, demineralized whey powder, lactose-free milk powders, and baby food.
Valio has actively developed the Lapinlahti plant in recent years, especially in the plant’s powder production. The most recent investment was a consumer product packaging plant completed in 2020. In 2022, the plant underwent a major energy renovation. The Lapinlahti factory employs around 285 people.
Earlier this year, Valio announced plans to close two food and drinks manufacturing facilities in Finland, with operations at the affected sites to be transferred to Valio’s plant in Riihimäki. As part of a business restructure, Valio initiated “change negotiations” with employees, resulting in 89 job losses and changes for 114 employees.