Frico Cheese, a division of Friesland Coberco Dairy Foods, is to close its cheese processing plants in Burgum and Olterterp and
transfer production to Bedum and Workum.

The decision is part of the company’s strategy to reduce costs by investing in locations with sufficient space for developing cheese of higher added value. Frico is to invest a total of 54 million euro in the two plants, which includes a new warehouse and brine centre at Bedum. All four sites are in the north of the Netherlands.

The cheese plants in Burgum and Olterterp both produce 22,000 tons of Gouda and of Maasdam a year and employ over 95 people. Production will be transferred by mid 2003, creating 50 new jobs at the two facilities.
Friesland assured employees there will be no compulsory redundancies and that it would help staff look for new employment either within the company or outside.