Finland’s Fazer Presses Ahead With New Chocolate Factory

Credit: Karolis Kavolelis/Shutterstock.

Fazer has decided to move guardant pinch its scheme for a caller cocoa mill nan Finnish group had put connected clasp amid concerns astir nan country’s fiscal policy.

Last year, Fazer paused plans to build a caller works successful nan confederate metropolis of Lahti aft nan Finnish authorities announced a connection to raise VAT connected confectionery. A twelvemonth later, nan thought was shelved.

Today, Fazer said it would proceed pinch nan project, pinch nan tract group to beryllium completed successful 2028 astatine a costs of €400m ($467.3m).

”The finance of astir €400m is nan largest successful Fazer’s history and it is besides important from a Finnish nutrient manufacture perspective,” president and CEO Christoph Vitzthum said. “The caller mill will support some our home arsenic good arsenic world maturation and demonstrates our beardown belief successful nan competitiveness of Finnish nutrient accumulation besides successful nan world markets.”

The facility, located successful nan Pippo business area of Lahti, will span astir 33,300 m2. Lahti is already location to a Fazer crisps factory, a bakery, a gluten-free tract and a xylitol facility.

Fazer’s confectionery brands see Karl Fazer beverage chocolate, Geisha and Duml.  

The institution besides operates successful nan bakery, non-dairy, and plant-based nutrient markets. 

It employs much than 4,000 group successful Finland, pinch different accumulation plants successful Vantaa and Lappeenranta.  

Fazer said Vantaa will proceed to big its biscuit factory, a “large” bakery, caput agency operations, portion of nan cocoa production, and nan Fazer Experience visitant centre.  

Lahti already houses a Fazer Mill, a sourdough breadstuff factory, a bakery, a gluten-free bakery, and a xylitol factory. 

In May, Fazer announced an €11m investment to grow its rye breadstuff accumulation capacity successful Lahti.  

In 2024, Fazer reported nett income of €1.18bn, pinch a 1% maturation aft rate adjustments. Comparable nett sales, excluding nan dairy division, roseate by 3%.  

Comparable EBITDA accrued by 3% to €141.4m, and nan comparable operating consequence surged by 14% to €75.9m. Group nett income resulted successful a profit of €34.7m, recovering from an €86.5m nonaccomplishment nan erstwhile year.