Cheese Factory with 40,920 Tons Annual Capacity Being Built in Konaev

The construction of a cheese production factory by the company Sofood Kaz is ongoing in Konaev. According to the project plan, the facility will be able to produce 40,920 tons of products annually. This progress was reported by the press service of the Baiterek holding.

The site aims to produce several types of cheese, including creamy and hard varieties. The facility is expected to increase the processing volume of milk and cheese production in the Almaty region.

To operate at full capacity, the factory will need approximately 91.7 thousand tons of raw milk annually. The primary sourcing is planned from dairy farms in the Almaty and Zhetisu regions, thereby creating additional demand for locally produced milk.

The project plans to create 400 permanent jobs. About half of the production is intended for the Kazakh market, while up to 50% of the products are expected to be exported to Central Asian countries, Russia, and Azerbaijan.

Niyaz Koshkimbaev, Managing Director of the Baiterek holding, stated during a site visit: "The significance of this project goes beyond constructing a single factory. It provides an additional market for local farmers' milk, new jobs for the region, and an increase in finished product output for the country. It's crucial that the development of processing relies on the local raw material base, allowing Kazakh manufacturers to strengthen their positions both domestically and internationally."

Sofood Kaz is part of the international Solico Group, which comprises more than 15 production facilities. According to Baiterek holding, the launch of this facility is tied to increasing the output of processed dairy products in Kazakhstan, import substitution, and export expansion.