History
1925 is considered to be the founding date of the company. This is when landowners from around the town of Turek decided to establish a shareholders’ dairy called Ziemianka. At that time the dairy focused on buying and distributing milk.
Ten years later, in 1935, the range of products expanded when the dairy started to produce butter and soft cheese. Also, the legal status of the business changed into a district dairy seated in Turek, with local farmers as its members.
The business continued to operate in this format until the outbreak of World War II, when the production was suspended. Fortunately, the production machinery remained undamaged and business resumed soon after the war ended, in 1945.
In the post-war period the plant, like many other manufacturing facilities at that time, was nationalised. However, the co-operative status of the business was restored in 1954.
In the late 1970s first efforts were taken to build a new plant in Turek, and the work came to completion in 1980. Production of ripened cheese first opened in the autumn of 1981.
The plant received numerous awards and prestigious certificates for its products between 1981 and 1999:
Ten years later, in 1935, the range of products expanded when the dairy started to produce butter and soft cheese. Also, the legal status of the business changed into a district dairy seated in Turek, with local farmers as its members.
The business continued to operate in this format until the outbreak of World War II, when the production was suspended. Fortunately, the production machinery remained undamaged and business resumed soon after the war ended, in 1945.
In the post-war period the plant, like many other manufacturing facilities at that time, was nationalised. However, the co-operative status of the business was restored in 1954.
In the late 1970s first efforts were taken to build a new plant in Turek, and the work came to completion in 1980. Production of ripened cheese first opened in the autumn of 1981.
The plant received numerous awards and prestigious certificates for its products between 1981 and 1999:
- Royal cheese – Golden Medal at POLAGRA 1993
- Mould cheese – the right to use ‘DOBRE BO POLSKIE’ logo – 1994
- Royal cheese – Polish promotional logo ‘TERAZ POLSKA’ – 1994
- Royal and Brie cheese – PCBC certificate authorising the ‘Q’ symbol on the products – 1995
- ‘Sielska Dolina’ UHT products - ‘Konsumencki Znak Jakości’ [Consumer Quality Mark] at IX Prezentacje Żywności 1999
On 13 December 1999 Okręgowa Spółdzielnia Mleczarska ‘Turek’ (District Dairy Cooperative ‘Turek’) decided to sign a contract with BONGRAIN S.A. which purchased 66% of its shares. This gave birth to a new company under the name of Mleczarnia Turek Sp. z o.o.
2000 saw the beginning of modernisation in the plant. New production lines were installed, a laboratory was opened and the refrigerating function was upgraded.
In 2001 the TUREK logo and packaging were redesigned and the company phased out its production of butter, milk powder and cottage cheese, focusing on mould cheese.
In 2002 the HACCP certificate was awarded and the production volume doubled in comparison to 2000.
In 2004 the company obtained a permit to export its products to EU countries and successfully passed the ISO 9001 audit. Since that moment, the centralised pathogen laboratory in Turek has served all three manufacturing plants.
More certificates and permits confirming the company’s operational quality followed in 2005: BRC and IFS certification, HACCP recertification as well as US and Canada export permits.
In the following two years the company obtained further export permits (to Turkey, Ukraine, Australia, Georgia and other countries). It also made important investments: exchange of the water chiller and compressed air installations.
In 2008 the Turek plant obtained the ISO 22000 certificate.
2000 saw the beginning of modernisation in the plant. New production lines were installed, a laboratory was opened and the refrigerating function was upgraded.
In 2001 the TUREK logo and packaging were redesigned and the company phased out its production of butter, milk powder and cottage cheese, focusing on mould cheese.
In 2002 the HACCP certificate was awarded and the production volume doubled in comparison to 2000.
In 2004 the company obtained a permit to export its products to EU countries and successfully passed the ISO 9001 audit. Since that moment, the centralised pathogen laboratory in Turek has served all three manufacturing plants.
More certificates and permits confirming the company’s operational quality followed in 2005: BRC and IFS certification, HACCP recertification as well as US and Canada export permits.
In the following two years the company obtained further export permits (to Turkey, Ukraine, Australia, Georgia and other countries). It also made important investments: exchange of the water chiller and compressed air installations.
In 2008 the Turek plant obtained the ISO 22000 certificate.