Arla Foods has opened a new innovation centre in Aarhus, Denmark where researchers are expected to create novel packaging technologies for the dairy industry.
The innovation center features a dairy pilot plant, several laboratories, a customer collaboration lab, a consumer house, and office facilities with an objective to support cross-functional projects and creativity.
It is expected to play a key role in the Arla’s collaboration with its customers. Besides, it will play a crucial role in the dairy producer’s Good Growth 2020 strategy through the addition of more value-added products.
Arla will work with scientists and universities on research in several areas like dairy farming, prevention of lifestyle diseases, innovative packaging and technologies that can make it easier to transport milk and fresh dairy products across continents.
Arla Research & Development senior vice president Sven Thormahlen said: “By securing a location in the midst of one of the world’s strongest and most ambitious food clusters, Arla will gain much better opportunities to strike new partnerships and alliances.
“And we are confident that our new global innovation centre will accelerate and drive the environment and become the beacon that will attract even more international companies and research institutes. It will be a huge asset for us and the entire Danish food cluster.”
Arla revealed that it is looking to expand its branded sales in the USA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and North Africa, Southeast Asia and China by 2020.
By the same timeline, Arla aims to further expand its organic dairy sales globally in a segment where it claims to be among the leading players.
