Nestlé resumes operations in Rio Grande do Sul, expands whey production plan

BRAZIL – Nestlé has announced resuming operations in Rio Grande do Sul by regaining control of a whey factory in Carazinho, which was previously part of its operations after five years.

The plant produces the main ingredient for the manufacture of infant formulas, and, with the resumption of operations, the company plans to increase production of this ingredient by 15% by 2029, in line with the expansion strategy of its Infant Nutrition business in the country. More than US$11.3 million (R$60 million) was invested to regain control of the unit.

“The resumption of operations in Carazinho marks an important step forward for Nestlé, bringing us even closer to the production of an essential ingredient for infant formulas. The whey produced at the plant is present in approximately 90% of the Nutrition portfolio manufactured in Brazil and is fundamental to guaranteeing the quality of our products.

“As leaders in the category, we remain committed to offering appropriate nutritional solutions for each stage of a baby’s life, with formulas developed from the science of breast milk,” says Marcelo Citrangulo, Executive Director of Nutrition at Nestlé Brazil.

The Carazinho unit was previously part of Nestlé’s industrial park. In 2010, the company began producing various dairy products at the complex and implemented a dedicated whey production operation.

In 2020, as part of a strategy to focus on higher value-added categories, the company sold its dairy products operation, including, temporarily, the licensing of the Ninho and Molico brands for UHT milk production.

To resume whey production, the company made a series of technical adjustments to the plant — a process comparable to building a new factory, given the technological complexity involved in this type of operation.

The unit is resuming operations based on infrastructure developed by Nestlé itself more than 15 years ago, including proprietary technology that reinforces the company’s industrial know-how and its ability to locally produce critical inputs for essential categories such as infant nutrition.

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