Müller to expand yogurt production with new facility in Germany

GERMANY – Müller is set to construct a new production facility at its Alois Müller dairy in Aretsried, Germany, dedicated to jarred yogurt products under the Landliebe brand.

The new building will fill, sort, and clean returnable jars, significantly boosting yogurt production capacity.

The 4,500-square-meter facility is expected to be completed by summer 2025, with production starting in early 2026.

This expansion will create 50 jobs and is part of Müller’s ongoing investment in the Aretsried site, which has received around US$152 million over the past decade.

Cornelia Heiser, managing director of Müller Germany, emphasized the importance of this investment for the Landliebe brand, aiming to restore its market strength. The Aretsried site, the birthplace of the Müller brand, continues to be central to the company’s growth strategy.

“This investment is an important step for one of the Landliebe brand’s iconic products, yogurt in a jar, which will be bottled in Aretsried from 2026,” he said.

“The site is the birthplace of the Müller brand, which has developed from here to its current strength. With the same spirit, we want to help the Landliebe brand regain its former strength in the market.”

Recently, Müller announced the closure of two sites acquired from FrieslandCampina in Schefflenz and Heilbronn due to their lack of long-term profitability.

According to Heiser, comprehensive economic analysis has shown that, under these conditions, the two production sites have no prospect of returning from the deep red to a profitable business in the long term.

Last month, Müller acquired family-owned UK dairy company Yew Tree Dairy for an undisclosed fee. The dairy major said it would use Yew Tree’s milk powder to grow its export business and “drive supply-chain resilience.

The acquisition is pending the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) approval. If approved, this move will significantly impact the global dairy market, particularly in milk powder exports.

Müller’s acquisition plans include further investment in the Skelmersdale site, transforming it into a leading producer and exporter of powdered milk products in Britain.

Rob Hutchison, CEO of Müller Milk & Ingredients, expressed confidence in the acquisition, stating, “Yew Tree Dairy’s exceptional processing capabilities and experienced team are a great match for our network. Together, we can capitalize on the growing global demand for dairy products, creating new export opportunities and strengthening our supply chain resilience.”

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