Arla opens its global innovation center in Aarhus, Denmark to help in achieving the company’s UK Strategy 2020 that aims to make Arla a household brand by 2020 and grow its revenue by nearly a third.
Innovation plays an important role with at least 10% of the UK’s net revenue from new product development across its branded portfolio.
In addition, it will extend its pipeline of healthier dairy products with at least 30 new dairy concepts and 50 new range extensions.
The global innovation team has previously supported the UK business more recently on Arla Big Milk, Arla BOB, Arla Lactofree and improvements on block cheese maturation.
In addition to new product development, the center will also see its 150 specialists work with scientists and universities on research across a number of areas such as dairy farming, prevention of lifestyle diseases, innovative packaging and technologies that can make it easier to transport milk and fresh dairy products across continents.
The building has a small and compact dairy pilot plant, laboratories, the Consumer House, the Customer Collaboration Lab and modern office facilities designed to support creativity and cross-functional projects.
The carbon neutral building, excluding the process areas, meets the requirements of the Low Energy Building Class 2020 stipulated by the Danish building regulations.
Moreover, water saving fixtures are installed throughout, and the building has 525 sqm solar cells on the roof for the production of renewable energy.
It is located in the Agro Food Park, which has 75 companies and institutions and the Food Faculty at Aarhus University.
The Park facilitates collaboration and interaction among companies, entrepreneurs, institutions and investors for growth.
