CCGL invests in expansion of milk powder factory

The Central Cooperative Rio Ltda (CCGL) opens today in Cruz Alta, in northwestern Rio Grande do Sul, the expansion of its dairy unit, which demanded an investment of 130 million R$. The plant is intended for the production of milk powder.
With the implementation of the new production module, the processing capacity of the Cruz Alta will pass from the current 1 million liters of milk per day to 2.2 million liters. According to the President of CCGL, Caio Cezar Vianna, the total capacity of milk processing will be achieved gradually. In the first year, the use of new production module must be at 30%. That must mean, Vianna, an increase between 150 million and 200 R$ R$ million in sales of the cooperative, which was of R$ 740 million in 2015.
Founded in 1976, the CCGL came to benefit about 70% of the milk produced in Rio Grande do Sul and was owner of the brand, but in 1996 to elect sold the assets of milk for Avipal (Raises), which was later acquired by Perdigão, who later joined the Sadia, in BRF. Today, these assets are in the hands of the French for Lactalis.
In 2009, the CCGL returned to dairy segment, with an investment of 120 million R$ in the first module of the Cruz Alta, with a capacity of 1 million litres of milk every day and whose extension is being inaugurated today. This first unit, CCGL produces, in addition to powdered milk, long-life milk, chocolate and cream.
According to Vianna, the work for expansion of the factory were started in 2014. Although at this point the milk powder exports are not competitive because of low international prices of the product, the goal of CCGL with magnification is increase sales abroad. "The project believes that at some point, 50% of the production will be exported," he said.
CCGL unit is already enabled for exporting powdered milk to countries of the so-called General list, in addition to Venezuela and Chile. The paperwork to sell to Russia are ongoing and the cooperative has already applied for authorisation to export to China, as the leader.
"The export depends on international price. Today it is more advantageous to sell on the domestic market, "admits Vianna, adding that in 2015, 25% of the volume of milk powder produced by CCGL was destined for abroad. This year, "everything is being sold on the domestic market," he said. The main markets of CCGL are States of the North and Northeast. In addition to retail, the company also provides milk powder for the food industry.
With 38 associated cooperatives in the State, CCGL also has logistics operations in the port of Rio Grande (RS), in addition to road, rail and hidroviárias operations of milk and grain.