Campina Cheese Facility Reopened After Two Fires

Two fires that broke out in quick succession in late 2004 brought cheese production in Lutjewinkel to a virtual standstill for a year. After the second fire, on 3 December 2004, a majority of the facility was destroyed.

20/04/06 Dutch dairy company Campina has reopened its fully-reconstructed cheese production facility in Lutjewinkel (North Holland province, the Netherlands), which was idle for a year following two fires in 2004. The facility makes unique North Holland cheeses, which are prepared by combining today’s technology with a rich tradition in cheese-making. Campina’s CEO J.J.G.M. (Justinus) Sanders will officially reopen the Lutjewinkel cheese production facility, under-lining Campina’s ambition to further expand its strong market position in North Holland Gouda cheese over the coming years.

On an annual basis, the cheese production facility in Lutjewinkel processes around 300 million kilos of North Holland cow-milk into North Holland cheese. This cheese, which can only be made in North Holland from North Holland milk, is covered by the European Union’s Protected Destination of Origin (PDO) system. The unique North Holland cheese from Lutjewinkel can be recognised by the protective red seal.

Two fires that broke out in quick succession in late 2004 brought cheese production in Lutjewinkel to a virtual standstill for a year. After the second fire, on 3 December 2004, a majority of the facility was destroyed. Lutjewinkel was rebuilt using the latest technology and progressive insights in the areas of cheese preparation, quality, safety and working conditions.

Early 2007 Campina expects to open its own modern cheese finishing and storage facility in Lutjewinkel, representing a € 7 investment. This storage facility, which will result in the closure of Campina’s cheese storage in Alkmaar, will also encompass finishing activities for the North Holland cheese that are currently carried out by third parties, such as ageing and packaging.

The facility in Lutjewinkel is one of the five Campina cheese production facilities in the Netherlands. It produces 170 million kilos of cheese annually, making Campina among the largest suppliers in Europe. In addition to the traditional range of Gouda and Maasdam, it also produces specialty cheeses. In the Netherlands, Belgium and Greece, Campina has achieved success with its low-fat tangy Milner variety . In the Netherlands, Milner makes Campina the largest supplier in this segment and, moreover, the biggest cheese brand in Dutch supermarkets.