SOUTH AFRICA – Lactalis South Africa (SA), one of the largest African dairy processors, has inaugurated a US$7.7 million new evaporator dryer power facility at its cheese manufacturing plant in Bonnievale , Western Cape Town.
Lactalis South Africa’s Bonnievale factory is one of the biggest cheese factories on the African continent and currently employs 800 employees.
The official opening of the plant facility was attended by the provincial Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Economic Development and Tourism, Mireille Wenger, MEC for Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer, and the Mayor of Bonnievale, Alderman Schalk van Eeden.
“This investment further demonstrates the continued commitment by Group Lactalis to strengthen its business in South Africa,” says Alban Damour, General Manager of Lactalis Southern Africa.
“We remain focused on finding innovative business solutions that enable the production of high-quality food products while creating employment and making a difference in the communities in which we operate.”
The evaporator dryer plant will perform its purpose of efficiently removing water from milk to produce a dry powder with an improved shelf-life without refrigeration.
The drying process will be carefully controlled to ensure that the dried milk powder is of high quality and standard, the company explained.
The growing population growth in the urban areas has accelerated the demand for milk powder, with its market projected to grow at the rate of 6.33% in the forecast period of 2021-2028.
Lactalis has banked on the new evaporator dryer plant to boost its skimmed milk production capacity, strengthen consumer confidence in its products, and enable it to acquire a bigger market share in the projected growth.
Speaking at the ceremony, MEC for Economic Development for the Western Cape, Mireille Wenger said that South Africa, and especially the Western Cape, is brimming with possibility.
However, the key to unlocking this potential lies in the actions taken to enable and support investments and businesses like Lactalis South Africa.
“The Western Cape Government is deeply committed to working with Lactalis SA to make it as easy as possible to do business here, so we can continue to thrive and expand, boosting economic growth and supporting more jobs for the residents of the Western Cape and South Africa,” said Wenger.
Commenting on behalf of Group Lactalis, Diego Puerta, Senior Vice President for Asia, Oceania and Africa Region, reinforced the commitment that the multinational company has made to the country.
In addition to this new product facilty, Lactalis South Africa remains home to its strong brands in dairy product categories which range from cheese, yoghurt, milk, and custard, to flavoured milk, cream, drinking yoghurt, masa, fruit beverages, butter and ice cream.
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