Valio triples plant-based production in Joensuu

Finnish dairy giant Valio will triple its production of plant-based protein products at its Joensuu facility over the next five years, reports Yle.

The company has consolidated nearly all its plant-protein output—including products made from oats, fava beans, and peas—at the Joensuu plant. Valio has acquired several domestic plant-based producers in recent years, grouping their products under its new Gold&Green brand, which includes bestsellers like pulled oats and fava-based Härkis.

Susanna Kallio, Valio’s business director, said the expansion responds to dietary guidelines and global food security concerns. While raw materials will primarily be sourced domestically, some imports will be necessary.

The Joensuu plant’s workforce has grown as Valio has scaled back or closed other units. Plant-based production currently employs 10–20 people, a number expected to rise. The facility, repurposed from a non-dairy building in Sirkkala, has a production capacity of roughly 600 kilograms per hour, with significant room for growth.

Valio’s investment in shifting plant-based production to Joensuu runs into the millions of euros, with returns expected in the coming years. The company aims to make plant-based products a staple, comparing their trajectory to that of oat milk, now a common café offering.

“In five years, these products won’t need to be compared to meat,” Kallio said. She noted that a quarter of consumers already buy plant protein weekly, and increased production will lower prices, driving further demand.

This autumn, Valio will add shelf-stable plant-based minces to its chilled product line. Exports to markets like the Netherlands and Denmark remain limited for now, with the focus on securing domestic demand first.

Despite the plant-based push, Valio continues traditional dairy operations in Joensuu, where its cheese factory produces 41 million kilograms annually—one-third of the company’s Finnish output. The site employs around 270 people, mostly in cheese production. Shared logistics for dairy and plant-based products create efficiencies, with deliveries running around the clock to the same retailers and distribution centers.