Valio, the prominent dairy giant based in Finland, is set to invest approximately €30 million ($33.8 million) to establish a new cheese maturation warehouse at its production facility in Joensuu.
The construction of this warehouse will commence immediately, and Valio anticipates completion by the end of 2027.
In a recent statement, Valio emphasized that this investment aligns with its strategy to gradually transition cheese production from its Vantaa facility in southern Finland to Joensuu between 2025 and 2027.
Specifically, the company will relocate slicing, grating, and processed cheese production from Vantaa to Joensuu. This move was initially announced in October, during which Valio also disclosed plans to relocate its warehouse operations from the Helsinki district of Pitäjänmäki to either Riihimäki or Tuusula.
This investment aims to consolidate the entire cheese production process “under one roof” at the Joensuu plant.
Moreover, the project will also involve renovating the maturation warehouse to accommodate production lines moving from the Vantaa facility.
Petri Liukka, director of the Joensuu plant, stated: “The expansion will create approximately 100 new jobs at the Joensuu production plant within a couple of years. New positions will emerge as the new production lines and facilities are gradually utilized.”
He added, “We have already recruited 15 new employees, with several dozen more positions expected to open on the slicing lines later this year. Additionally, Valio employees from the Vantaa plant have begun transferring to roles in Joensuu.”
The Joensuu plant is responsible for producing “one third” of Valio’s cheese output.
It processes milk from around 800 dairy farms, annually producing approximately 25 million kilos of cheese blocks, consumer-packaged cheeses, cream cheeses, and milk powders.
Products manufactured at the facility include Valio Polar, Valio Salaneuvos, and Viola cream cheeses.
In the future, the Joensuu plant will also produce processed cheeses, such as Valio Koskenlaskija, Valio Aamupala, Valio Olympia, alongside Valio Kippari slices and grated cheese.
About 20% of the products from this site are exported outside of Finland, according to Valio.
This project represents Valio’s ongoing investment in its facilities across Finland.
In September, the company revealed an investment of approximately €70 million ($77.1 million) aimed at upgrading its Seinäjoki milk processing plant.
Additionally, last May, Valio committed €60 million ($65.3 million) to increase cheese production at a factory in Lapinlahti in southern Finland.
In February, Valio acquired two fava-bean brands from fellow Finnish food group Raisio.
