Valio is supporting a dairy project in Hatsina, Russia

08/02/06 Finnish dairy company Valio is assisting Russian company Galaktika in the construction of a new dairy in Hatsina. The Finnish company is offering its dairy construction expertise as well as machinery and equipment released from Valio plants closed in Finland.

Galaktika will continue to operate the Hatsina dairy, in the new building scheduled for completion in late 2007.

“Valio is not a shareholder in the dairy and we are not starting up dairy operations in Russia. We do however need more and more fresh products for the growing Russian market, and we can have these made locally in the new dairy. Valio will continue to import products that have a longer shelf life such as processed cheese, cheese and butter from Finland just as before,” stresses Harry Salonaho, President and CEO of Valio.

Valio is an important operator in Russia and the company’s Viola, Oltermanni and Valio butter brands are very well-known there. Turnover for Valio subsidiary ZAO Valio St. Petersburg is estimated at € 120 million in 2005, up nearly 35% on the previous year.