An investment of 1.6 million euros for a larger capacity for refrigerated storage of dairy products in the Azores

Lisbon, December 13, 2021 - LactAçores, a cooperative union that sells Azorean dairy products, produced to the highest standards and with a rigorous quality control and food safety system, inaugurated the first phase of the new logistics and refrigerated distribution warehouse in Vila Franca Xira. With an investment of 1.6 million euros, the new infrastructure will allow an increase in storage capacity of around 40% of refrigerated dairy products, consolidating the company's commitment to competitiveness, modernity, innovation and sustainability in the sector.

LactAçores currently has its operational structure based on four platforms located in São Miguel, São Jorge, Faial and Vila Franca de Xira where it acquired its first warehouse in 2004 with only 2,300 m2.

Since then, turnover has risen from 29 to 83 million euros, and marketing from 25 to 73 million litres of milk, from 6,500 tonnes of cheese and butter to the current 11,500 tonnes.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by José Manuel Bolieiro, President of the Regional Government of the Azores, António Ventura, Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development, Lara Martinho, Member of Parliament, Marina Tiago, Deputy Mayor of Vila Franca de Xira, Maria Carolina Câmara, President of IAMA (Institute for Food and Agricultural Markets), Jorge Rita, President of the Agricultural Federation of the Azores, Presidents of the Associated Cooperatives, Pedro Tavares, President of LactAçores and Delegates of LactAçores, among other business and political figures. The guests also visited the new cold storage area for cheese and butter, followed by a tasting of the best products from the islands of São Jorge, Faial and São Miguel, marketed by LactAçores.

Pedro Tavares, President of LactAçores, explains that "this work represents the result of the effort and commitment that have been built day after day, with hard work, firmness and determination, allowing us to be today a union of cooperatives promoting the economic development of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, creating wealth and social well-being in all islands. Pedro Tavares stresses that "at this stage of the project, around 950 thousand euros have already been invested by LactAçores, without recourse to external funding, regional or national community support and it is this continued ambition, of always wanting to do more and better for the future and success of the dairy sector in the Azores, that motivates and inspires us. He adds that "the uniqueness of our products, recognised for their respect for nature, animal welfare and superior quality, deserves a specific and sustainable programme for milk production within the scope of rural development, so that distribution and, consequently, the end customer, recognise and value Azorean dairy products and national production more and more".

The President of the Regional Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, congratulated LactAçores for its investment and initiative, stating that this date marks a moment "of celebration, of confidence, of hope. It is, on the one hand, a point of arrival (...) but also a starting point for the dimension that is intended to be added in the value chain of the agro-foodstuff up to distribution, up to the consumer," he declared.

LactAçores, the Union of Dairy Product Cooperatives that includes Unileite (São Miguel), Uniqueijo (São Jorge) and CALF (Faial), represents around two dozen renowned national brands and is present in 20 countries. It currently has around 900 producers, employs 600 employees and collects and processes, through its associates, around 40% of all the milk in the Azores. This year, the marketing of products will reach 12,000 tons of cheese and butter, 75 million litres of milk and a turnover of 90 million euros.