A-ware enters Estonia dairy factory with Interfood

The Dutch dairy groups Royal A-ware and Interfood Group are investing in the construction of a dairy factory in Estonia. They do this together with the Epiim cooperative. This dairy, which owns about 100 dairy farms, is one of the largest producers of cheese and butter in Estonia.

The 3 companies announced this in a joint statement on Thursday, April 22, 2021. The aim of the new factory is to increase production and improve it to a sustainable production process. It will be the most modern dairy in the Baltic States, claim the initiators. The factory should significantly improve the capacity of the Estonian dairy industry, which can also strengthen the regional development of dairy farming. The factory is scheduled to go into operation in 2023, with construction to begin next summer.

A-Ware and Interfood participate in the factory through their joint venture Meierei BV. This amount will receive a 24,99% interest in the company AS Epiim Tootmine, which will operate the new factory in the city of Paide. A Meierei representative said in the statement that "the Estonian dairy industry is making a development leap of 30 years with the construction of the new dairy".

Sustainable goals
Climate neutrality and sustainability are important goals in the construction of the new factory. For example, all the thermal energy the factory needs is produced from renewable energy sources. Over the years, the electricity consumption of the new factory will also be gradually switched to CO2-neutral solutions. A solar park is also being built on the site of the factory.

This fits in with the strategy of the cooperative SCE Epiim, which brings together dairy farmers from Estonia and Latvia. The organization has developed a new sustainability standard, titled Caring Farm, in which the goals are formulated for animal welfare, climate, quality and economic sustainability.

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