7 June 2018

2 minute read

Europe

The 'Coöperatieve Zuivelfabriek Zuidelijk Westerkwartier', as is written on the old façade of the building, was built in 1918 following the example of the Dutch cheese plants in Lutjewinkel (North-Holland) and Wolvega (Friesland).

Over the years, the FrieslandCampina location in Marum mainly specialised in the production of Edam cheese.

This cheese has grown to become the number one Edam cheese in the market and its fame has spread all over the world.

23 million cheeses are produced in Marum on an annual basis. With this the plant is the largest within FrieslandCampina with respect to number of Edam cheeses.

FrieslandCampina Proud of its Edam cheese

Sibble Jan Broos, Plant Manager of the FrieslandCampina cheese plant in Marum: "The cheese makers in Marum have gained a lot of knowledge about the production of Edam cheeses in the last hundred years.

"Our cheese makers have won gold with our Edam cheeses from Marum at the biennial World Championship Cheese Contest in Wisconsin in the United States five times in a row for a good reason.

"This is quite something. Consumers in countries such as Japan, France and Spain appreciate our Edam cheese for its mild taste. Therefore we are extremely proud of this great product."

Centralisation of production of Edam cheeses in Marum

The production location in Marum started with the production of Gouda and Edam cheeses a long time ago. Over the years, the FrieslandCampina location in Marum mainly specialised in the production of Edam cheese.

The production of Edam cheese from the Dutch locations Balk (1998), Elsloo and Vollenhove (1999), Gerkesklooster (2000), Workum (2005) and Middenmeer (2008) were centralised in Marum. At this moment the cheese plant in Marum, which has 130 employees, is the only cheese plant of FrieslandCampina producing Edam cheese.

The Edam cheeses from Marum are available in three sizes, being 0.9 kilo, 1.7 kilo and 1.9 kilo and in a total of 25 recipes, which are sold as ball-shaped cheeses or in wedges.

Export throughout the globe

In a hundred years, the cheese plant in Marum has grown into the largest cheese plant for Edam cheese in Western Europe. 80 to 90 per cent of the products is used for export.

Under the brand name Frico the Edam cheeses are distributed throughout the globe and the cheese is found in, among others, Egypt, The Philippines, France, Japan, Libya, Morocco, Mexico, Spain and Sweden.

Last Saturday, about 350 pensioners and family members of employees were given a tour of the hundred-year-old plant.

TheCattleSite News Desk