Baltic ice adapts to Europe

Joint seminar introduces new opportunities to Baltic manufacturers of ice cream and dairy products
Inspiration and innovation filled two days in Riga for leading food manufacturers from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia who attended a ice cream and dairy seminar jointly arranged by Arla Foods Ingredients. Bringing together complementary ingredient expertise, the seminar targeted the new opportunities available to Baltic dairy and ice cream companies within the European Union.
The Baltic nations’ entrance into the EU in 2004 has created a new reality for their food industry. It was this that sparked the decision to hold the seminar, explains Arla Foods Ingredients managing director for the Nordic and Baltic region, Lennart Österström.
The harmonisation of raw material prices since joining the EU means many of the bulk commodities Baltic manufacturers use are no longer cheap. In some cases, prices have gone up 50%, he says. Our cost-efficient functional milk proteins can help them keep their production expenses down without compromising the quality of the final product. We can also offer our application knowledge to ensure they use our ingredients optimally.

Development opportunities
Arla Foods Ingredients hosted the seminar in cooperation with vegetable fats specialist AarhusKarlshamn and fillings and coatings producer ASM Foods a trio of suppliers capable of providing complete ice cream and dairy solutions.
At the seminar, the 35 Baltic participants were introduced to the many possibilities for improving existing recipes and developing new products. Other subjects included Arla Foods Ingredients’ application centre in Denmark and the synergies that arise when using functional milk proteins with ingredients supplied by AarhusKarlshamn and ASM Foods. Ice cream and dairy product samples were available so participants could taste some of the opportunities themselves.
Following the seminar, Arla Foods Ingredients has paid a visit to each manufacturer to identify their particular needs. Lennart Österström reports a high level of interest.
Since joining the EU, it is easier for these countries to export their products. But this also requires that they are faster to act and more dynamic in their product development.
Our solutions give our customers the best conditions for maintaining or even increasing their market share by developing value-added products with a high, consistent quality.