New 70 million plant

For Igor maxi-investment in premium proteins

Global Gorgonzola leader in joint venture with Dutch big VanDrie to valorise whey

by Luca Orlando

5 May 2026

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

"It seems easy to say now, but years ago, when they imagined the investment, the demand for these products was certainly not so obvious".

A non-trivial commitment, that of Fabio Leonardi, Piedmontese dairy entrepreneur and CEO of Igor, world leader in the production of Gorgonzola DOP, who has decided to invest 70 million euros to build a new production plant capable of transforming the key by-product of his production process, i.e. whey, into premium proteins for the food-nutritional sector.

Operation realised in a joint venture with the VanDrie Group, a Dutch multinational global leader in the veal sector and reference player in dairy ingredients, through its subsidiary Serum Italia. Thus was born Dolce Vita Proteins, a new company dedicated to the international marketing of premium protein powders from Italia whey.

'The demand for these products is growing strongly,' explains Leonardi, 'and understandably so, taking into account the characteristics. We are talking about a whey without preservatives, which comes from the high quality stables that supply us with milk, a product made in Italy that is already being requested by several countries, including Europe and the United States'.

The production investment, realised in Cameri, close to the headquarters on the outskirts of Novara, creates a new site that will work on a continuous cycle in three shifts, with the aim of producing 4 thousand tonnes of product per year, adding another important share of revenue to the group.

Il nuovo sito

A Cameri, alle porte di Novara

'The order of magnitude,' explains Leonardi, 'is 50 million euro, in addition to which there is a significant positive impact on the territory. In addition to the 50 direct jobs, there are in fact spin-offs on the supply chain, for example on transport. The company that works with us in this area years ago had only a handful of trucks, just five, now there are 70".

Through Dolce Vita Proteins, two competencies come together: Igor integrates its own production history and the quality of its whey with the VanDrie Group's industrial and commercial experience and extensive international presence in the dairy ingredient markets. The result is a specialised platform, focused on the premium segments of the global food and nutrition industry.

"With Dolce Vita Proteins," explains the CEO, "we are taking a strategic step in the path of growth and industrial diversification of our family, which has always invested with a long-term vision, focusing on innovation, industrial solidity and high-profile partnerships. The agreement with the VanDrie Group unites two family businesses that, for generations, have handed down the same shared values, work culture and long-term oriented entrepreneurial vision. This newco was created with the aim of establishing itself as a worldwide reference point in the segment of premium proteins from Italian whey, of superior quality, preservative-free and made on all-stainless steel plants'.

For Igor, this is another step in an important growth path, which, thanks to continuous investment, has taken the group to the global summit in Gorgonzola production, reaching just under 290 million in revenues by 2025.

'This year,' explains the entrepreneur, 'we aim to exceed 300 million, to which we will then have to add the revenues from the new business. Just as on the increase will be the number of employees, which will reach 400'.

Luca Orlandoinviato-caporedattore
- @lucaorlando66
Luogo: Milano
Lingue parlate: Inglese
Argomenti: Imprese, meccanica, innovazione, export, macchinari, Industria 4.0, robot
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