St Hubert, the Dairy Crest-owned French spreads business, has invested EUR5m (US$6.6m) in a test production line and cold storage at its plant in Ludres, in eastern France.
The line, a replica of an industrial production line, is located in St Hubert’s quality and R&D laboratory and is designed to allow the company to improve its nutritional approach in the development of new products.
In February 2008, St Hubert’s work in this field was recognised by France’s Ministry of Health within the framework of its national nutrition and health programme.
Investment at the Ludres plant has also focused on a new cold storage facility, with an annual capacity of up to 40,000 tonnes, made necessary by the steady growth in sales volumes. The company’s current, yearly output is around 31,000 tonnes of product.
