London: Global food processing and packaging solutions company Tetra Pak has entered into a strategic partnership with British cheesemaker Heler Foods to establish one of Europe’s most technologically advanced cheese manufacturing facilities, integrating artificial intelligence, automation and real-time digital production management.
The new cheesemaking plant, located at Heler Foods’ creamery in Nantwich, England, will become the first dairy facility in Northern Europe to deploy Tetra Pak Factory OS, the company’s next-generation digital manufacturing platform. The project is scheduled to be commissioned by January 2028.
AI and Automation to Transform Cheese Manufacturing
At the heart of the collaboration is Tetra Pak Factory OS, an integrated digital platform designed to connect production equipment, monitor plant performance in real time and optimise manufacturing processes through intelligent automation.
The platform continuously analyses production data and automatically adjusts processing parameters to improve operational performance without interrupting production.
According to Tetra Pak, the system is expected to:
- Optimise cheese yield through real-time process control.
- Improve product consistency and quality.
- Enhance production efficiency through intelligent automation.
- Reduce water and energy consumption.
- Minimise processing losses and manufacturing waste.
- Strengthen overall process reliability and traceability.
The technology aims to help dairy processors achieve higher productivity while supporting sustainability goals through more efficient resource utilisation.
Digital Manufacturing Gains Momentum
Tetra Pak introduced Factory OS at Gulfood Manufacturing 2025 in Dubai as part of its strategy to accelerate digital transformation across the global food and beverage industry.
The platform addresses one of the sector’s key challenges—helping manufacturers adopt advanced automation and artificial intelligence without disrupting existing operations.
Industry experts note that increasing production costs, labour shortages, sustainability targets and demand for consistent product quality are driving dairy processors worldwide to invest in smart manufacturing technologies.
Focus on Efficiency and Sustainability
Commenting on the partnership, Katrin Andersson, Managing Director, North Europe at Tetra Pak, said food and beverage manufacturers are increasingly looking to digital technologies to improve competitiveness in a rapidly changing market.
She noted that intelligent automation and AI-powered manufacturing systems can help processors reduce operating costs while improving production efficiency and product quality.
According to Andersson, the collaboration combines Heler Foods’ long-standing cheesemaking expertise with Tetra Pak’s digital engineering capabilities to create a highly automated facility capable of reducing energy use, water consumption and production waste.
Investment Supports Long-Term Growth
For Heler Foods, the project represents a significant investment in the future of British cheesemaking.
George Heler, Chief Executive Officer of Heler Foods, said the new facility reflects the company’s commitment to continuous innovation while preserving its family-owned heritage.
“As a third-generation family business, we have always believed in reinvesting in our future. This project represents another important milestone in strengthening our manufacturing capabilities and preparing the business for long-term growth,” he said.
He added that the implementation of Factory OS will position the company among Europe’s leading cheese manufacturers in terms of quality assurance, process control and production consistency.
Smart Dairy Processing Becoming Industry Standard
The collaboration reflects a broader trend across the global dairy industry, where processors are increasingly investing in digitalisation, artificial intelligence and Industry 4.0 technologies to enhance productivity and sustainability.
Modern dairy plants are adopting technologies such as automated process control, robotics, predictive maintenance, digital twins, machine learning and real-time analytics to improve manufacturing efficiency while reducing environmental impact.
These investments are helping dairy companies respond to growing consumer expectations for consistent quality, improved traceability and sustainable food production.
Outlook
The Tetra Pak–Heler Foods partnership highlights the growing role of intelligent manufacturing in the future of dairy processing.
As automation and AI become increasingly integrated into food production, next-generation digital platforms are expected to redefine how dairy products are manufactured, enabling processors to improve efficiency, reduce resource consumption and maintain consistently high product quality.
With commissioning planned for early 2028, the Nantwich facility is expected to serve as a benchmark for digitally connected, sustainable cheese manufacturing in Europe and could influence future investments in advanced dairy processing technologies worldwide.
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