Emmi opens new, large cheese dairy in Emmen
Emmi has officially opened the new, resource-efficient cheese dairy at its traditional site in Emmen. The CHF 50 million investment is one of the most significant investment projects in the history of the leading Swiss manufacturer of premium dairy products. The state-of-the-art facility is geared towards long-term growth plans in the strategic specialty cheese segment, such as for Luzerner Rahmkäse. As a commitment to the Swiss cheese tradition, it also contributes towards sustainable value creation in central Switzerland.
Almost two years after the granting of building permission and intensive planning, engineering and construction measures, the new cheese dairy at the traditional site in Emmen was officially opened in the presence of high-profile guests including Fabian Peter, Government Council of the canton of Lucerne, and Peter Hegglin, member of the Zug Council of States. Replacing the former cheese dairy building, which was over 40 years old, and with a view to Emmi’s long-term growth plans, the new cheese dairy is oriented towards the professional, resource-saving and efficient production of Swiss specialty cheeses such as Luzerner Rahmkäse.
“Committed to the tradition in our home region, with the new, resource-saving cheese dairy in Emmen, we are sending out a message that we want to strengthen our leading market position in our home market. With differentiated brand concepts such as Luzerner Rahmkäse, we see further growth potential in the strategic focus segment of specialty cheeses, not least in exports,” says Marc Heim, Executive Vice President division Switzerland.
Regional value creation
“The new building is a future-oriented project that also shows and further strengthens Emmi’s connection with its roots. The canton of Lucerne is proud that such an important company, known far beyond the country’s borders, is based here and will continue to remain in Lucerne,” says Fabian Peter, Government Council of the canton of Lucerne, explaining the economic significance of the investment.
The CHF 50 million investment in the new, large cheese dairy and the associated value creation in Emmi’s home region represents a commitment to the regional Swiss cheese tradition and the Emmen site at the heart of Switzerland. Emmi’s roots go back to 1907, and to this day Emmi continues to carefully process milk from milk producers in central Switzerland to create high-quality milk and cheese specialties, making use of short transport routes. With this investment, Emmi is making a further contribution towards regional value creation and positioning central Switzerland as an attractive place to work.
Specialty cheeses as a strategic growth segment
The investment in the new cheese dairy is part of the consistent strengthening of the company’s position in its home market of Switzerland, with differentiated brand concepts in selected growth segments such as specialty cheeses.
In the specialty cheese segment, Luzerner Rahmkäse, which has been popular since the 1970s, is proving to be a profitable growth driver and is enjoying sustained popularity. For Swiss premium cheeses, it is highly likely that the positive long-term trend will continue, in both the domestic and the export markets. In line with these prospects and Emmi’s long-term growth plans, the new cheese dairy will create additional capacity to handle the expected increased volumes.
Resource-saving processing, efficient and safe work processes
Based on Emmi’s sustainability model and the company-wide netZERO 2050 reduction path, Emmi is also relying heavily on renewable energy for the new cheese dairy. In addition to the existing woodchip and photovoltaic system, the production of renewable energy is being expanded with additional photovoltaic modules installed on the roof of the new cheese dairy building.
What’s more, the state-of-the-art production facilities will enable more efficient process flows and resource-saving manufacturing processes for a planned volume of around 10,000 tons of cheese per year. With water savings of up to 70 million litres per year, the new cheese factory will operate in a virtually water-neutral manner. Compared to the former building from 1976 and its facilities, the new cheese dairy building also brings progress in terms of occupational safety and offers ergonomically designed workstations with optimal lighting conditions that meet the highest quality and safety management standards.
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About Emmi
Emmi is the leading manufacturer of high-quality dairy products in Switzerland. The roots of the company date back to 1907, when it was founded by dairy farmer cooperatives in the Lucerne region. With its focused strategy, innovative products and brand concepts established in Switzerland and beyond, such as Emmi Caffè Latte and Kaltbach cheese, Emmi has grown into an internationally active, listed group (EMMN) with a strong local presence in 15 countries.
Emmi’s business model is traditionally based on a careful approach to nature, animals and people. In this way, Emmi creates the best dairy moments, today and for generations to come, while also contributing to value creation in rural regions. The company distributes its quality products in around 60 countries and manufactures these at over 30 of its own production sites in nine countries. With more than 9,000 employees, around 70% of whom work outside Switzerland, the Emmi Group generated sales of CHF 3.9 billion in 2021.