German Dairy Giant Bauer Opens Production Centre for Plant-Based Milk & Yoghurt

German dairy giant Bauer Group has opened a production and innovation center in Bavaria to meet the increasing demand for plant-based dairy alternatives. The new facility in Wasserburg am Inn will allow Bauer to produce its soy base for non-dairy milk and yogurt products in-house, eliminating the need to source externally. The company is leveraging Germany's local infrastructure and raw material supply chain, with the goal of reducing transportation emissions and shortening the supply chain by sourcing raw materials from farms in the surrounding region.

Engineering company GEA provided the technical foundation for the facility, supplying and implementing the complete process technology for producing the soy base. This project marks GEA's first at this scale in the plant-based food sector, showcasing its commitment to supporting the growth of alternative protein manufacturing. Bauer aims to capitalize on Germany's position as a leading market for plant-based foods in Europe by focusing on regional production as a crucial step towards a future-oriented approach with sustainability in mind.