Unilever has opened its 35th ice cream factory in Konya, Turkey following an investment of over €95 million.
The Konya factory, which will produce brands such as Cornetto, Max and Twister, is Unilever’s 35th ice cream factory globally, and is to be the model for all future 'Heartbrand' factories around the world.
The new factory, which aims to be the first Unilever ice-cream factory in the world with LEED Certification, reuses rain and surface water, recovers heat, and is zero-non-hazardous-waste-to-landfill by design.
The site at Konya was chosen for its good infrastructure and logistics, as well as its lower earthquake risk.
“Turkey is an important growth market for Unilever. We have a long history in the country – having been in business there for almost 100 years and opened our first factory in 1952," Pier Luigi Sigismondi, Unilever chief supply chain officer said.
"Today, Konya has become our eighth manufacturing site in the country, as we continue to invest in growing our Turkish and regional business. This new factory is a testament to our commitment to drive sustainable growth", he added.
Ice cream produced in Konya will be distributed for domestic consumption, but will also be exported to the Middle East and North Africa. Current annual production capacity is 80 million litres, with the option to expand to 200 million litres.
Unilever entered the Turkish ice cream market in 1990 and has grown its business to a marketing-leading position with a current market share of over 70%. The new factory will employ around 300 people.
© 2013 - ESM: European Supermarket Magazine by Ellen Lunney
