Grupo Piracanjuba expands Brazilian dairy footprint with new processing hub

BRAZIL – Grupo Piracanjuba has officially inaugurated its newest industrial unit in São Jorge D’Oeste, Paraná, solidifying its status as a titan of the Brazilian dairy industry.

This state-of-the-art facility represents a major leap in production capacity, engineered to process a staggering 1.2 million litres of milk per day.

In this first stage, production will be focused on butter and cheese, with expansion planned for higher value-added ingredients, such as whey protein, lactose powder and cottage cheese.

The movement gains relevance in the face of Brazil’s dependence on imports — currently, 54% of whey protein concentrate consumption and 67% of lactose are imported.

With about 250 initial direct jobs, the unit was designed with a focus on efficiency and sustainability, including water reuse and biogas use. The investment reinforces the company’s national expansion strategy and diversification of the company’s portfolio.

These advancements ensure that the high volume of milk processed does not compromise the consistency or safety of the final product. The plant’s infrastructure is built to handle complex cheese varieties, catering to a diverse range of consumer tastes.

Grupo Piracanjuba expands with acquisition of Natulact

Recently, the company acquired Santa Barbara Indústria e Comércio de Bens e Laticínios Ltda (Natulact) for an undisclosed sum, strengthening its presence in the Northern region of Brazil.

With the transaction, Grupo Piracanjuba will have its first manufacturing unit in the Northeast Region, increasing the number of factories currently in operation to eight. The other seven are located in the Centre-West, South and Southeast regions of the country.

“It will be the first factory of the Piracanjuba Group in the Northeast, reinforcing the company’s expansion in the region, as we will become more competitive,” President of the Piracanjuba Group, Luiz Claudio Lorenzo, stated.

Grupo Piracanjuba stated that the acquisition was motivated by the Group’s interest in expanding its national coverage.

Factors that influenced the decision included the synergy between the companies and the strategic geographic position of the industry, which is located in one of the largest dairy basins in the Northeast.

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