Multimillion investment aimed at securing Arla Foods’ mozzarella activities

Arla Foods is investing €210 million to secure its position as a global mozzarella producer. The money will be spent on state-of-the-art technology at a plant in Taw Valley (UK). The technology is intended to help the dairy cooperative maintain its competitive position, achieve growth and better meet customer demands.

Arla Foods is one of the world’s largest mozzarella producers. The capital injection in advanced production technology at the Taw Valley dairy is the company’s largest ever investment. With the new production capabilities, the dairy cooperative will soon be even better placed to meet increasingly specific customer demands and keep pace in the fast-changing world of mozzarella.

Double-digit growth rates

According to Executive Vice President and COO Peter Giørtz-Carlsen, Arla Foods’ mozzarella business has seen double-digit growth over the past five years. “But we also know we have to work hard to maintain that position in the category and deliver on our strategy. This investment allows us to remain among the leaders in mozzarella, serve our customers even better and, at the same time, improve the profitability of our farmers’ milk.”

The new technology provides more flexibility and innovation opportunities. For example, it can meet the demands of customers who want their mozzarella to brown, melt or stretch in a certain way. The technology is covered by various patents. It also reduces the cheese ripening process from 14 days to just one day. This will make Taw Valley a state-of-the-art cheese production site, according to David Boulanger, Executive Vice President and Head of Supply Chain.

Global exports

The high-quality cheese produced at Taw Valley will add extra volume to Arla Foods’ current mozzarella production. Most of it is exported to foodservice customers worldwide. “This is a great example of how we continuously innovate our process capabilities, improve efficiency and strive for superior products to fulfil our strategic ambitions, create growth and ultimately create value for our farmers,” comments Boulanger.

Construction is expected to be completed in 2026. The new facility will manufacture its first products in the following year. The investment does not affect Arla Foods’ two other mozzarella production sites in Denmark.