Valio

Valio was founded in 1905 by 17 co-operative dairies. The original name of the company was Voivienti-osuusliike Valio r.l, or 'Butter Export Cooperative Valio'. The company was originally based in Hanko and the most important market was England.

Valio's activities expanded from butter to other dairy products in 1909. Exports of products such as processed cheese to Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, France, Norway, Belgium and the United States began in the 1920s and expanded rapidly during that decade. In 1933, Valio started production of Koskenlaskija Finnish brand of processed cheese in Helsinki. In the United States, Valio sold Pasteurized Process Gruyere Cheese in a wooden box, with graphics on 2 sides.

Virtanen, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1945, was an employee of Valio. The prize was given "for his research and inventions in agricultural and nutrition chemistry, especially for his fodder preservation method". Virtanen's work preserved nutrients in hay, which lead cows to produce more nutritious milk.

Valio began exporting milk powder, cheese and butter to several international markets in the 1950s, including countries such as Algeria and Morocco. Valio’s cheeses gained popularity particularly in Germany and Italy. During the same decade, Valio also entered the United States market by exporting Emmental/Swiss cheese under the name “Cheeses from Finland”. In the late 1970s, the Finlandia brand was developed and introduced to the market in the northeastern United States. In 1992, Valio acquired the Finlandia brand and subsequently expanded its distribution nationwide across the United States.

In 1986, Valio began sharing its dairy production expertise and selling related equipment to agricultural leaders in China. During the 1990s, Valio’s DEMI™ demineralised whey powder was supplied to markets including China, Taiwan and South Korea, where it was used in products such as chocolate and ice cream, as well as globally by infant formula manufacturers. By 2001, Valio had established a dedicated office in Shanghai responsible for the sales of Valio’s ingredients and technologies.

In 2001, Valio launched a lactose-free milk drink which is not sweet like HYLA milk but has the fresh taste of ordinary milk. Valio patented the chromatographic separation method to remove lactose. Valio also markets these products in Sweden, Estonia, and the United States, where the company says ultrafiltration is used.

In Belgium the products were present under the Valio brand until 2013. The name changed to 'Dilea' after Valio sold their Belgian subsidiary in 2012.

Valio sold its ice cream activity to overseas company Nestlé in 2004. Nestlé also received the right to use the Valiojäätelö name for 10 years, ending in 2014. It was soon transferred into the Nestle/R&R Ice Cream joint venture Froneri Finland.

Valio operates production plants in Finland and Estonia. All products manufactured for sale in Finland and for export are produced using Finnish milk at the company's 13 production plants. In Finland, the milk used in production is sourced from Valio’s Finnish owner‑entrepreneur farms, while in Estonia milk is sourced from partner producers whose quality is subject to ongoing monitoring. Valio subsidiaries operate in Sweden, China, and the United States. Valio exports its products to around 50 countries. Its exports include milk and whey powders and butter for the food and baby food industries, as well as consumer products.

Valio’s innovation activity has been influenced by scientific research, including the work of Nobel Prize–winning chemist Artturi Ilmari Virtanen, who previously led the company’s laboratory. The company continues to emphasize product development and technological innovation and holds more than 300 patents worldwide.