Emmi rebuilds in Emmen
Emmi is investing CHF50 million (€45.3m) in its location in Emmen, Switzerland. A new wing replaces the 40-year-old cheese dairy building, and creates additional capacities in line with long-term growth plans. Construction work is scheduled to start in mid-November and commissioning is planned for the end of 2022.
In 1927 the predecessor organisation of the Central Switzerland Milk Producers Cooperative (ZMP) and Emmi bought the Sbrinz cheese dairy Neuhüsern in Emmen. In 1945 this was converted into a test facility for soft and semi-soft cheese and two years later the first products under the Emmi brand were launched there.
“Emmen and Central Switzerland are the cradle of Emmi and Swiss cheese is one of the main pillars of our growth strategy. A modern, resource-saving large cheese dairy with short transport routes to our milk suppliers optimally complements our specialty cheeses from commercial dairies.” explains deputy CEO Marc Heim regarding the investment decision.
The existing cheese dairy building in Emmen had shown a great need for investment in recent years. On the one hand, the building built in 1976 should have been extensively renovated. On the other hand, the dairy plant has reached the end of its life cycle.
In the last ten years the milk processed into cheese at the Emmen site has doubled and demand is expected to rise in the coming years, especially for the popular Lucerne cream cheese from Emmen.
The investment will include a newly constructed building with new facilities for optimal production, storage and distribution. It can be built according to the current quality and safety management standards and enables more efficient processes. Cheese production should use less water and energy, and the quality of the workplaces will be significantly improved (especially with regard to ergonomics and lighting conditions). The existing dairy can also continue to operate during the construction work.
