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FrieslandCampina has revealed plans to optimise its production network in the Netherlands for enhanced efficiency and sustainability, leading to the elimination of 186 jobs.
The international dairy group intends to concentrate all activities at its production facility in Leeuwarden in the southern part of the site, with the northern part to eventually close.
According to the company, this measure will lead to improved cost-effectiveness and logistics, as it will avoid significant investments in renewal of the northern area and eliminate the division of the site by a public road and railway line in the future.
The process will happen gradually, with a goal of stopping the production of sweetened condensed milk by 1 June 2026. This will then be outsourced to fellow dairy co-op Hochwald in Boswald as part of a strategic partnership. In return, FrieslandCampina will produce evaporated milk in Leeuwarden for Hochwald.
Remaining products currently manufactured in the site’s northern area will be relocated elsewhere within FrieslandCampina’s network. As a result of these measures, 87 of the total 927 jobs in Leeuwarden will be cut.
The partnership with Hochwald will span several years, aiming to enable both companies to align their manufacturing process chains sustainably, enhance the resilience of their production and safeguard their competitiveness in the market.
FrieslandCampina also plans to relocate the production of natural cheese from Born to Workum, with cheese production in Born to close by 10 May 2025 at the latest. This will result in the loss of 99 jobs.
David Cutter, chief supply chain and research and development officer at FreislandCampina, said: “FrieslandCampina must continue to operate cost-effectively, sustainably and in a future-proof manner. This is why we are always looking for opportunities to optimise our production network”.
He added: “We are aware of the significant impact that the announced steps will have on our employees and will support them as much as possible in finding new employment, either within or outside our organisation.”
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