Emmi is Committed to Switzerland
Swiss dairy group Emmi is strengthening its presence in Switzerland and investing SFr50 million (€46 million) in its traditional location in Emmen. A new wing will replace the more than 40-year-old cheese dairy building, providing space for highly professional and resource-saving cheese production and creating additional capacities in line with the company’s long-term growth plans. Construction work is scheduled to begin shortly, with commissioning planned for the end of 2022.
In 1927, the predecessor organisation of today’s Central Switzerland Milk Producers Co-operative (ZMP) and Emmi’s current majority shareholder purchased the Neuhüsern Sbrinz cheese dairy in the Lucerne suburb of Emmen. This was converted into a pilot plant for soft and semi-soft cheese in 1945, and then two years later the first products were launched there under the Emmi brand.
“Emmen and Central Switzerland are where Emmi was born, and Swiss cheese is one of the key pillars of our growth strategy. A large, modern, resource-conserving cheese dairy with short transport routes to our milk suppliers is the perfect complement to our speciality cheeses from commercial cheese dairies,” says deputy CEO and Executive Vice President Division Switzerland Marc, explaining the investment decision.
The building housing the existing cheese dairy in Emmen had started to show itself in great need of investment in recent years. On the one hand, the building, which was constructed in 1976, would have required extensive renovations. While on the other, the cheese dairy facility has reached the end of its life cycle. Added to this, their available capacity would likely no longer be able to cope with expanding growth from 2023 onwards. In the last ten years, the milk processed into cheese at the Emmen site has doubled, and demand is expected to continue to rise in the years ahead, especially for the popular Luzerner Rahmkäse from Emmen. This product, which was launched in the early 1970s, is enjoying even greater popularity today, especially on the family table.
