Premium quality infant nutrition products from state-of-the-art Lapinlahti plant

Less processing of milk means higher quality end product

All Valio infant grade ingredients and products are manufactured from fresh, unprocessed milk that is only pasteurized. This means that our products go through less heating and other processing compared to products that use powdered milk as raw material. In a less processed product, the nutrients are better preserved, risk of contamination is lower, and the taste is more natural.

Whey comes from our own cheese factories – quality is not affected by transport

In Lapinlahti, the whey does not travel far, as Valio cheese factory is located on the same property. All whey used in Lapinlahti processes is delivered from the cheese factory in a closed system, so we have full control over the quality chain. The whey is fresh and unprocessed, and no contamination from human intervention can happen.

Milk is fully traceable to the farm of origin

All milk batches used in Valio processes are carefully logged into the system and can be traced back to the farm of origin at any point. As all milk is tested on arrival at the plant, quality issues with raw material very rarely occur. Yet, in such occurrence, our fully transparent production and quality chain guarantees quick and accurate corrective measures.

The tracing system at Lapinlahti plant is regularly tested in traceability exercises and mock recalls, as required by the FSSC 22000 certification.

Milk is produced in a clean environment far from industrial and traffic emissions

Our plant is located in the town of Lapinlahti, in Eastern Finland. This part of the country is known as the heartland of Finnish dairy farming. The average distance that milk has to travel from farm to plant is 67 kilometres. Short distances help preserve not only the environment but also the taste and microbiological quality of the milk.

The area is far away from major cities, heavy industry, and heavy traffic. In the cool Finnish climate, little pesticides are needed in feed production. The use of genetically modified GM feed is not permitted at Valio dairy farms. The air the cows breathe, the feed they eat, and the water they drink is exceptionally clean. As a result, all the milk we use is of the highest quality and free from impacts of pollution and pesticides, and it tastes fresh and clean.

Automated processes of the state-of-the-art plant minimise the risk of human error

Lapinlahti plant has all the basic dairy processes needed, but to take high quality and added value to the next level, we have invested in major improvements over the years. The latest investment is the new dry blend facility and tin can packing line. The new facilities are designed safety and hygiene first, with easy-to-clean surfaces and safety measures to prevent cross contamination.

We have carefully considered the production flow on the entire property, and many of our crucial processes are automated. This improves production efficiency, hygiene, and safety, and helps lessen environmental impact and the risk of human error.

Lapinlahti plant has ISO 14001, ISO 9001, and FSSC 22000 certifications

All our operations are compliant with ISO 14001 Environmental Management System standard, ISO 9001 Quality Management System standard, and the FSSC 22000 certification. All analytics for the end products are carried out by an accredited research laboratory in compliance with ISO 17025 standard.

All plant staff are trained and educated in food and hygiene

At Lapinlahti plant, every member of our staff has at least a basic training in food manufacturing or a related field. All employees also have a Finnish food hygiene certificate. At Valio, we share a deep commitment to the high quality and safety of our products, and we cannot wait to welcome our customers back to our plant to proudly demonstrate that commitment.

We are committed to providing uninterrupted supply to our customers at all times

Strict COVID19 protective measures are in place at Lapinlahti plant to safeguard the continuity of production. To keep production in full capacity and to guarantee full safety of our products, we are limiting outside access to the plant. Audits are conducted remotely, whenever possible. We have many physical distancing measures in place, including walls and separate work spaces.

Valio legal team and R&D experts can help you with a successful go-to-market strategy.

Podcast: Harness the business potential of milk phospholipids

Valio’s Nutrition Research Manager Anu Turpeinen fills you in on the importance of phospholipids in early life and how they can be used in food manufacturing to develop new products and enter new markets.

Interested in further information?

For more information, please contact our food solutions team.