Arla opens new production site in Senegal

By Jim Cornall

- Last updated on GMT

Arla's new plant in Senegal is now operational, and the company hopes to grow sales, employ more people, and start exporting to neighboring African countries.
Arla's new plant in Senegal is now operational, and the company hopes to grow sales, employ more people, and start exporting to neighboring African countries.

Related tags Milk powder Milk

Arla’s new Dano milk powder packaging facility is now operational in Dakar, Senegal.

The new plant, which officially opened May 17, has an annual capacity to handle 5,000 tonnes of milk powder made in Europe from Arla’s farmer owners’ milk.

At the 14,000sqm plant, fat filled milk powder and instant whole milk powder are re-packed into various retail-sized packaging, for example foil sachets, which Arla says are affordable and easy to mix with water to get a glass of milk.

Expanding to other countries

Steen Hadsbjerg, head of Arla in Sub Saharan Africa, said the facility will provide affordable nutrition to the developing West African dairy market, and that the new plant will employ 20 people initially. He added the number of employees will rise as sales grow.

The sachets from the plant will initially be distributed to wholesalers and stores in Senegal by Arla’s partner, Dakar-based partner Agroline S.A., and later distribution will be extended to neighboring countries.

As the company pursues its 2020 strategy, it says Senegal will be an important market and gateway to further expansion in the West African region. 

Hadsbjerg said Senegal will be the hub for expansion into Mali later this year, which would be followed by Mauritania.

Already selling milk and mozzarella

Arla already offers Dano long-life liquid milk in Senegal. In addition to retail, in March 2016 Arla signed a mozzarella agreement with YUM-YUM, a pizza chain in Senegal.

Arla says that Senegal’s fastest growing categories are flavored milk powder, evaporated milk and yogurt. Average growth of the market is projected at 5% annually until 2020.

senegal arla2
Arla's new Dano milk-powder packaging facility in Senegal, which is now operational, employs 20 people.

In 2015, Arla conducted a human rights assessment in Senegal to ensure that the company’s activities in Senegal do not bring unintentional negative consequences for the local dairy sector and its related communities.

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1 comment

Mrs

Posted by Fatou Mclrod,

I am a Gambian borned British citizen with the plan to spend more time in Africa.
I would be interested in acting as an agent for your products in the Gambia.
PLEASE provide me with the necessary information including the terms and conditions
Many thanks
Fatou McLeod

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