Laimas’ new production plant in Ādaži municipality opened / Article

Investing almost 20 million euros in production equipment and construction of premises, a new “Laimas” production plant was opened in Birznieki, Ādaži municipality, on Thursday. Now in Ādaži near the Tallinn highway will produce “Laima” candies and part of “Kalev” products. The current factory in Riga, Miera Street, is no longer in operation.

Part of the equipment was transferred to the new plant from the Miera Street plant, but a lot of money was invested in the modernization of the plant. Thus, for example, managed to reduce water consumption ten times. Of the approximately 1,000 employees working for the group, 100 will work at the new plant.

Toms Didrihsons, Chairman of the Board of Orkla Latvija, said: “Indescribable emotions. A few years ago we were standing here in a potato field, where potatoes for “Ādaži chips” were grown, but we dared to dream that there would be a factory here. And I’m glad I can open a chocolate factory. “

The already experienced employees who have worked in Riga until now continue to work in this factory. However, Ādaži looks to the adjacent building with high hopes. There will be a biscuit and waffle factory and 300 new jobs.

“We are very happy that Laima and Orkla have invested right here, which will give a boost to the development of Ādaži region. A large part of the employees will come from Riga. But there will also be jobs for locals, several hundred new jobs. It will give a push, but it is also worrying, because labor is very, very in demand, ”said Māris Sprindžuks, Chairman of the Ādaži District Council (Latvian Association of Regions).

The new factory employs 70 people, but during the season, 100 people are preparing Christmas products. Most have come here from the Miera Street factory.

Among them is the head of the Quality Department Baiba Brakovska. She lives in Pardaugava. The new factory is in Ādaži. But the distance to work does not scare him: “Personally, I feel better here than in the center of Riga, printed like that. You are in a rural environment. You come out, there’s fresh air. And we, the employees, have transportation, we don’t have to worry about that. ”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (“New Unity”) noted: “Such factories are where we all live. All teachers’ salaries, all medical salaries, all infrastructure are maintained from business taxes. So that’s the most important thing. “

The hottest working season has just begun for confectionery manufacturers. “It simply came to our notice then; In order to be able to produce all the candies for Christmas, you have to fold your hands at the end of August, ”said Didrihsons.

Last year, Latvia achieved the largest amount of investments in the last seven years, and this year the first half of the year has already surpassed the whole of last year.

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