FrieslandCampina is set to invest more than €90m ($105.2m) in whey protein production in the Netherlands.
In a statement today (5 May), the Dutch dairy cooperative said it is expanding capacity for “higher-value” ingredients and to “optimise” its manufacturing network. The spending will fund upgrades at its Bedum, Veghel and Workum sites.
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The programme will support technological improvements at the three locations, enabling the manufacture of products including WPC80, instantised whey proteins and its Nutri Whey ProHeat microparticulated whey.
FrieslandCampina said the ingredients are used by food manufacturers in applications such as high-protein drinks, bars and yogurts.
Asked for more details by Just Food, FrieslandCampina said the investment will be used to add new and upgraded equipment, improve processing lines and modernise processes, including modern filtration technologies, improved water reuse systems and more efficient processing lines.
It added the programme will include extension of WPC80 and ProHeat capacity in Bedum and Workum, as well as optimisation of the lactose factory in Veghel using whey permeate.
However, the co-op declined to disclose current capacity levels or the scale of the expected capacity increases at each site.
FrieslandCampina said in its statement that the investment will position the company and its ingredients business group to respond to rising global demand for high-value whey proteins by “increasing capacity and strengthening the flexibility” of its whey valorisation chain.
FrieslandCampina Ingredients president Anne Peter Lindeboom said: “Global demand for advanced protein solutions continues to accelerate. This programme is the next step in our broader investment strategy to lead in high-value proteins, building on recent investments to strengthen whey capacity and valorisation in the Netherlands such as in Borculo, and in the US through the acquisition of Wisconsin Whey Protein.
“By investing across our ingredients network, we are strengthening our ability to serve customers worldwide and to create more value from our whey streams in a sustainable and future-oriented way.”
The Dutch dairy group told Just Food that work on the projects will start this year and the investments will be rolled out over the coming years. The first upgraded processes and equipment are expected to come online from 2027, with full operational capacity in 2028.
FrieslandCampina will inform its works councils as plans at the various locations are developed.
The company said it expects no major impact on employment.
“Any changes in staffing needs will be managed responsibly and are expected to be largely absorbed through natural attrition,” it said in the statement.
FrieslandCampina added that the new investment programme will also support its environmental goals by incorporating “state-of-the-art” energy- and water-efficient technologies while phasing out older production lines.
It expects the measures to cut Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions by around 16 kilotonnes of CO2e, while maintaining compliance with Dutch and EU environmental standards.
FrieslandCampina has branch offices in 30 countries and employs 19,075 people. Its products are sold in more than 100 countries.
In December last year, the co-op bought US ingredients firm Wisconsin Whey Protein to “significantly” increase its ingredients unit’s whey protein capacity.
