March 9, 2012

BRF new US$17 million cheese factory to start work

Brasil Foods' new BRL30 million (US$17 million) cheese factory will begin operations in March.

Brasil Foods (BRF) cheese production will increase by 1,000 tonnes a month. This increase in volume will come from Itumbiara, Goiás, where the company already operates a dairy unit.

"We invested more than BRL30 million (US$17 million) in civil engineering design and procurement of equipment," says Fábio Medeiros, vice-president of the dairy unit of BRF. "The unit will serve mainly the North and Northeast regions of the country," the executive adds. Sadia and Santa Rosa mozzarella cheese will be produced.

Furthermore, the Dobon milk compound, marketed exclusively in the North, will also be produced onsite. "BRF is mindful of the continued growth of the dairy sector, especially in the category of cheese, that represents annually about BRL7 billion (US$3.97 billion)," said Medeiros.

"Every year we sell nearly 700,000 tonnes of cheese in the country, with the predominant share in mozzarella and prato cheeses," said Medeiros.

Besides cheese, the Itumbiara complex produces butter, flavoured products, milk powder, UHT cream and milk. The production meets the demand of the Southeast, Northeast, North and Midwest. About 800 producers ensure the supply of raw materials which, on average, amount to 14 million litres per month. The items produced in the unit are marketed under the brands Batavo, Elegê, Cotochés and Santa Rosa.

The BRF plant of Terenos produces about 400 tonnes a month of cheese. "The forecast is to reach 600 tonnes a month in the first six months," said Medeiros. "This plan reinforces the presence of BRF in the Midwest, where the company maintains another cheese unit in Terenos, Mato Grosso do Sul."