Valio to keep Russian production going

In response to the recent Russian government decree prohibiting the importation of agricultural raw materials and food products from countries that have imposed sanctions against Russia from mid-August, Finnish dairy Valio has said that will contionue its production in Russia.

Over 90% of the firm’s  production is from Finland, but deliveries from Finland and neighbouring Estonia, where Valio also has processing, has ceased. Valio produces and supplies not only dairy products, but also juices, fruit drinks, jelly, water and some other products. 

“We are talking about the termination of the production of goods to Russia, and the factories that operate in Finland. The production of products in Russia will continue,” says Pekka Laaksonen, CEO of Valio. 

Valio has its own production in Russia in the Ershovo, Moscow region. It produces processed cheese triangles under the Viola brand, slicing cheese Oltermanni and the European collection. The factory started up in 2009, with an initial investment of €60 million in the project. 

In addition, Valio has a contract manufacturing drinking yogurt, Valio Clean Label,and the kefir product Valio Gefilus, both of which are produced at the Galaxy plant in Gatchina. Milk for these products comes with two local farms Leningrad region. “At the moment, we are very carefully considering the possibility of expanding production,” the company says.