FDBusiness.com

Synutra International, a leading infant formula company in China, has formed a long-term partnership with Sodiaal, the leading dairy co-operative in France, and its subsidiary, Euroserum, the world leader in demineralised whey powders.

Under the partnership agreement, Synutra will build a new drying facility in Carhaix, France(located in the Brittany region), intended to manufacture powdered milk and fat-enriched demineralized whey for the needs of the Synutra group. Located in the heart of the central Brittany milk-collection basin, this new drying facility will be capable of producing 60,000 tons of powder per year initially, with a designed capacity of up to 100,000 tons annually.

Synutra anticipates spending approximately Eur90 million to build and operate this drying facility with the majority of funding for this project expected to come from PRC bank loans. The operational commissioning of the drying facility is expected to take place by year-end 2014, subject to full PRC government approval and, once completed, is expected to employ approximately 75-100 employees. Upon commissioning of the drying facility, Euroserum and Sodiaal will supply the facility with demineralised liquid whey and milk.