Lepel Dairy Factory, Russian investor to set up joint cheese company

VITEBSK, 31 May (BelTA) – Lepel Dairy Factory together with a Russian investor will set up a joint enterprise to produce Cheddar cheese, BelTA learned from director of the company Alexander Mikhailovsky. The investment project with the total cost of about ?1 million to launch the production of this semi-hard cheese with the capacity of 10 tonnes of cheese per day will be implemented in Tolochin. According to the preliminary data, each partner will hold 50% of the authorized fund. Necessary documents will be completed in August, in autumn the joint company will receive necessary equipment. The new company will be put into operation in 2012. In January-April 2011 Lepel Dairy Factory produced Br72.2 billion worth of products, up 35.7%, as against the same period last year. The profitability is 4.5%. The company’s export accounted for 58.1% of the total and made up $12.3 million. Top trade partners were Venezuela, Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Mongolia. Innovative products accounted for 11.6% of export. The company’s fixed capital investments were Br5.5 billion. Energy savings estimated at 18.2% with the target of 12%. Labor productivity increased by 40.6%. Lepel Dairy Factory was created in 1951 and reincorporated into an open joint stock company in 1998. The company operates Zaoozerye agricultural production branch, Tolochin Butter and Cheese-Making Plant, Dokshitsy production facility and Beshenkovichi milk collecting station. The factory offers whole-milk products, skim milk powder, cheese, ice cream. Lepel Dairy Factory and the agricultural production branch employ over 1,100 people.

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