Lactalis pumps €50m into German quark capacity by 2030

Lactalis is spending roughly €50 million ($57 million) to add quark production at its Neuburg site in Bavaria, the French dairy giant said in a statement.

The facility, which already runs milk, cream, yogurt and dessert lines, will shift to a continuous three-shift, seven-day schedule. Lactalis expects the plant to produce about 40,000 metric tonnes of quark and 104,000 metric tonnes of whey by 2030, bringing total annual volume near 308,000 metric tonnes. The expansion will add roughly 70 jobs.

Quark is a fresh dairy product popular in German-speaking markets, used in both sweet and savory dishes. The investment targets growing demand for high-protein dairy in Europe, where consumers are shifting toward products with higher protein content and fewer additives.

Lactalis operates six sites in Germany and employs about 1,300 people in the country. The Neuburg expansion is part of a broader capital program. In September, the owner of the Lactel and Président brands announced plans to invest €1 billion through 2030 to modernize its French manufacturing sites, focusing on production equipment, innovation and decarbonization. Projects already lined up include expanding its Petit Basque cheese plant in Larceveau and adding new lines at its Bouvron and Bayeux facilities.

The company has also been reshaping its footprint elsewhere. Last July, Lactalis closed a dairy manufacturing site in Australia after a review of its long-term operations there. Earlier this month, it acquired Protein Works, a UK business that markets protein powders, shakes and bars.

Lactalis is the world's largest dairy company by revenue. The Neuburg investment signals a bet that quark demand will keep growing in Germany and neighboring markets, even as the group trims capacity in other regions.