Fazer to expand oat milling capacity with new investment

Finland-based food company Fazer has announced its plans to expand its oat milling capacity with an investment of €30m.

The company will use the investment to double the milling capabilities of their facilities in Lahti, Finland, and in Lidköping, Sweden. The investment will be divided equally between the two mills.

Established in 1971, Fazer’s Lahti mill produces a wide range of flour products that are supplied to bakeries and food manufacturers. The products manufactured at this facility are exported to approximately 30 countries. The Lidköping mill was established in 1981 and is engaged in the manufacture of oat, wheat and rye products.

The company will also construct two new mills in order to double its existing oat milling capacity.

The president and CEO of Fazer, Christoph Vitzthum said: “Today’s conscious consumers value convenience and well-being and Fazer’s growth is based on in-depth consumer insights turned into innovative products and meaningful food experiences. The superfood oats are booming worldwide and Fazer will leverage its knowledge in oats further.”

Vitzthum further added: “Milling expertise and research and development related to oats will, in the future, become even more essential parts of Fazer’s strategical objectives. Doubling the capacity in both mills will also open for new employment opportunities.

“There is a fast-growing consumer demand for nutritious plant-based food produced from locally grown raw materials.”

The investment is part of Fazer’s ambitious growth strategy that focuses on innovation and sustainable solutions.

In September this year, Fazer entered a strategic partnership with food-tech start-up company Solar Foods to research and develop the latter’s protein ingredient Solein.

Solein is a carbon-neutral protein that can be produced independently from soil, avoiding the negative environmental effects of land use in its manufacture.