Danish dairy processor Arla Foods aims to do this by developing products that appeal to their taste preferences and food habits. Central to this project is a US$1.8 million innovation lab opened last week in Beijing. It brings together Danish and Chinese innovation to develop cheeses and other dairy products.
Located in the China-Denmark Milk Technology Cooperation Centre in Beijing, the lab has Arla and Mengniu Dairy Group working to strengthen the Chinese dairy industry’s milk quality, food safety and quality control on the dairy farms. The principles applied are based on those guiding Arla’s European quality programme Arlagården.
The Prince Consort of Denmark opened the lab which will employ four people including cheesemakers and innovation specialists with Danish or Chinese background. They will work with customers, consumer groups and Mengniu.
Arla senior vice president Frede Juulsen, responsible for Arla’s business in China, says more Chinese consumers are experimenting with food, wine and tastes.
“We are striving to be as close to the Chinese consumer as possible to create taste experiences that suit their diets and taste profiles, thereby bringing health and inspiration to China.
“We aim to take the lead in the cheese category in China, and building a cheese lab is a key step… a place where we can co-create and innovate in an agile and dynamic manner.”
Chinese have recently been gaining an appetite for cheese.
Arla’s business in China is based on the export of dairy products from Europe including milk powder, UHT milk and cheese.
The innovation lab in Beijing will enable Arla to launch products developed and produced exclusively for Chinese consumers.
“It’s all about developing the next blockbuster product for the Chinese dairy market. Our first focus will be to create the right kind of cheese products that will make more Chinese consumers love cheese in new and different ways.
“But it must be done in a way that respects and contributes to the food trends developing in China.”
