Latvia Opens 60 Million Euro Cheese Factory, Boosting Regional Dairy Production

A significant investment in the dairy sector has materialized in Latvia with the opening of a new 60 million euro cheese production facility in Bauska. Operated by "Baltic Dairy Board," a company belonging to the Lithuanian dairy group "Vilvi Group," the state-of-the-art plant represents a major step in the region's food processing capabilities.

Construction of the highly automated factory took two years, and commercial cheese production commenced in January. The first batch of products has already been dispatched to customers in Italy, signaling the plant's immediate integration into the international market. Gintaras Bertašius, CEO of "Vilvi Group," highlighted the factory's seamless integration into the group's broader production system, emphasizing its role in sustainably utilizing every drop of milk.

Byproducts from the cheese-making process are channeled to other "Vilvi Group" facilities. Whey is processed into dry milk products at a plant in Tauragė, while fats are further processed into butter at "Marijampolė Dairy." This integrated chain, spanning both Lithuania and Latvia, ensures maximum efficiency and product quality. The new Bauska factory is equipped with advanced technology from partners like TetraPak, SealedAir, and GEA, and features a 1000 kW solar power station on its roof. The facility has generated over 100 new jobs, primarily for local residents, and is projected to produce 18,000 tons of cheese annually, contributing an estimated 100-120 million euros in revenue to "Vilvi Group."