Di Digital has previously reported on Ljusgårda's latest vertical farm of 7,000 square meters in Tibro. Production has just started, but before the paint had time to dry up, the decision was made to build another salad plant.
"This means 60 new jobs in the production workforce. Then we will grow on the service side as well," says the company's CEO Andreas Wilhelmsson. The latest expansion, which came on stream this week, will increase lettuce production from 2 tonnes a month to 60 tonnes a month. The planned plant will enable the company to produce an additional 1,440 tonnes of lettuce a year and to continue to develop its product range in the pea salad segment.
The company is now investing SEK 200 million (€ 19,7 million) in the upcoming 18,000 square meter plant. The premises, also located in Tibro, previously housed the furniture manufacturer Offecct. The refurbishment will begin in the summer and commissioning is planned for the spring of 2022.
In 2020, the company had a net turnover of SEK 2.4 million (€ 236k). Last year, the company replenished its coffers with SEK 130 million (€ 12,8 mln) for the construction, of which SEK 80 million (€ 7,9 mln) came from bank loans and SEK 50 million (€ 4,9 mln) from financiers. Partners include H&M-linked Philian AB, Karl-Johan Persson's investment company, and Jula's investment company Jula miljö och Teknik was added to the round.
"We will do another financing round during the quarter. Growing at this pace is nothing new for our shareholders. Now we are taking factory two, but when it is ready, the next factory awaits," reveals Andreas Wilhelmsson. So far, the products have mostly only been available in western Sweden, but this summer delivery will expand, including to Stockholm.
"Over 70 percent of all the fruit and vegetables we eat in Sweden are imported. The Swedish market and production is hugely underdeveloped in this area and our goal is that all lettuce sold in bags should be grown, harvested and packaged in Sweden by 2025," comments Andreas Wilhelmsson.
Source: DiGital (In Swedish)