Ground has been broken on a new whey processing facility at Gäsene Mejeri, as the Swedish dairy co-operative moves to broaden its business beyond cheese production.
The dairy, based in Ljung northeast of Gothenburg, announced the start of construction in a Facebook post last week, accompanied by an image of an excavator at work outside the creamery.
“By the end of the year, we will start up the new whey facility. Here, we will dry the protein-, vitamin- and mineral-rich by-product from cheese production and manufacture whey concentrate. This will then be further refined and used, for example, in muscle-building supplements or as an ingredient in food products,” the dairy said.
The SEK 30 million investment was first announced in early 2026, following a record year for the cheese producer.
“We have now decided on these upcoming investments, which will be the largest in our history,” chief executive Nebojsa Gojkovic said at the time.
“There is strong demand for whey, and in the new facility, which we hope will be completed in October, we will produce whey concentrate for further processing.”
Gäsene Mejeri, known for its cheeses sold across much of Sweden, achieved record production of 3,250 tonnes of cheese in 2025.
However, the co-operative’s heavy reliance on cheese production has left it exposed to fluctuations in market demand. In response, the business is pursuing a diversification strategy, including an ownership stake in a new milk powder plant in Falköping as well as the expansion of concentrated whey protein production at its own site.
Founded in 1931, Gäsene Mejeri is Sweden’s smallest dairy co-operative. Today, 19 farms supply more than 36,000 tonnes of milk annually, all located within 25 minutes of the dairy. Nebojsa Gojkovic took over as chief executive in autumn 2025 after working at the dairy since 2011.