Arla Foods invests in UK mozzarella production

Arla Foods is set to invest €210m ($227.6m) in mozzarella cheese production at one of its UK dairy sites.

The dairy cooperative claimed the project is its “largest ever investment into the UK”.

The Taw Valley creamery, based in Devon in south-west England, will have new technology to “meet demands from customers, who need their mozzarella to brown, melt or stretch in a certain way”.

Arla added the technology includes several patents and brings down the maturing process from 14 days to one.

The majority of the mozzarella produced at the Taw Valley site will be exported to global foodservice customers, according to Arla.

“With this investment, Taw Valley will become a state-of-the-art cheese production site and combined with our strong channel understanding in the global mozzarella category, we are strengthening further our business”, said executive vice president and head of supply chain David Boulanger.

“This is a prime example of how we at Arla Foods constantly innovate in our process capabilities, improve our efficiency and drive product superiority in order to deliver our strategic ambitions, create growth and ultimately secure value for our farmer owners.”

Construction is expected to be finalised in 2026 with the first products from the new facility ready the following year. The investment will not impact Arla Foods’ two other mozzarella production sites in Denmark, the cooperative confirmed.

Just Food