Quesería Lafuente to invest 21.6 million to expand plant in Heras, creating 70 jobs
HERAS (MEDIO CUDEYO), 19 (EUROPA PRESS)
Quesería Lafuente is carrying out a global investment of over 21.6 million euros to nearly double its plant in the Heras industrial estate (Medio Cudeyo). Out of this total amount, 5.4 million euros are funded by a grant from the Government of Cantabria.
The forecast is that this expansion of the facilities will be ready by this summer, as announced on Wednesday by the company’s president, José María Lafuente, after visiting the factory and the ongoing construction work alongside the regional president, María José Sáenz de Buruaga (PP), and the regional Minister of Rural Development, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food, María Jesús Susinos, among others.
Once operational, this expansion is expected to result in the hiring of «around 60 to 70» people, as explained by Lafuente, who mentioned that the group as a whole has over 1,200 employees, 650 of them in Cantabria, with a business volume growing around 10% annually.
Additionally, it has been detailed that this expansion of the Heras facilities is part of the 2023-2027 investment plan, involving 50 million euros in the autonomous community.
Following the visit, Buruaga highlighted that Quesería Lafuente is a «strategic company» for the region, not only in terms of job creation and local development—now employing 630 workers in Cantabria, 20% more than two years ago—but also in strengthening rural areas and the livestock sector, from which it purchases 35 million liters of milk.
«These are the companies we want in our land,» emphasized Buruaga, also praising the company’s «great innovation power» as a modern, exporting entity and a global quality standard reference, with a balanced, diversified, solvent business model always striving for higher goals.
She also underscored the trust the group has in the autonomous community, the «nerve center» of the company with five production plants in Spain and an international market spanning over 20 countries across all continents.
Buruaga assured that the expansion of the Heras plant represents «excellent news» for the autonomous community, enabling this «giant of Cantabrian agri-food industry» to meet the high demand for its specialties and continue growing within the market.
Regarding the 5.4 million euros grant from the Government, the president mentioned that this financial aid reflects the Government’s commitment to «industrial and business investment,» which she described as a «priority» and «vital» for the region’s development.
This support, as explained, is part of the aid package for agri-food industries expanded by the regional government this year, increasing from 18% to 25% for large companies like Lafuente and from 30% to 35% for micro-enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Lafuente expressed gratitude for the Government’s support. «We feel protected and supported by the Administration.» «Although the timelines of the Administration and the company may differ, we have no doubt about their support, which is crucial for us,» he added.
FROM AN ARTISAN CHEESE DAIRY TO A LEADING BUSINESS GROUP
The president praised the business trajectory of this group that started as a «small artisan cheese dairy» and has now become «a leading business group in the production, marketing, and export of dairy products» to distribution chains, catering, hospitality, and restaurants.
She stated that this «remarkable business and operational transformation was made possible thanks to the effort of the Lafuente family, through continuous, discreet, patient, well-planned, and rigorous work, now materialized in this magnificent reality.»
Buruaga appreciated the group’s continued investment in Cantabria and its trust in the community as the backbone of the Lafuente group.
The visit also included the Mayor of Medio Cudeyo, María Higuera, in addition to the company’s managing director, Juan Carlos Salcines; the financial director, Pedro Pedraja, and the director general of Fisheries and Food, Paulino San Emeterio.
