Laiterie Ekabe SA in Eschweiler, Luxembourg, has announced that it will not be renewing its current contract with 68 Luxembourgish dairy farmers. This is according to a report by RTL. As a result, it is expected that from early or mid-2027, no local milk will be used in the production of Ekabe products. Ekabe explains that the main reason for this decision is economic considerations. There are no plans to close the site.

Ekabe is part of the French group Lactalis. According to the company, the Ekabe dairy has significantly expanded its milk collection and production over the years whilst simultaneously reducing the number of suppliers. Whilst around 25 million litres of milk were collected from some 300 Luxembourgish farmers in 1977, the figure today stands at around 50 million litres, though now sourced from only around 90 farms. In total, Ekabe processes approximately 110 million litres of milk annually, with a maximum capacity of 120 million litres, and uses this to produce a wide range of products, including various types of cream, quark, cream cheese, desserts and the traditional ‘Kachkéis’. Most of the milk is condensed and shipped to other Lactalis plants.

Luxlait, Luxembourg’s No. 1 milk processor, says it is ready to explore solutions, but warns that the volumes involved require a serious industrial response.