Rokiskio

Although Rokiskio claims to have been founded in 1964 when the first large Lithuanian cheese factory was built in the city of Rokiskis, the company's history includes another important date - 1925. At that time, the Rokiskis Cooperative Dairy was created in the building of the Rokiskis estate, owned by Count Jonas Pshesdetsky. The dairy was equipped with a 1000-liter-per-hour separator and a 2000-liter capacity for butter production, with steam engines. The main product was butter, most of which was exported. After World War II, from 1957 to 1960, after reconstruction and installation of electrical equipment, the dairy began producing skimmed cheeses and casein.

In 1964, construction of a new cheese factory began in Rokiskis, and in February 1966, the first products were launched - butter, scalded milk, cheese, and sour cream. The product range was quite diverse. At that time, the volume of milk purchases was approximately 40-60 thousand tons per year, which is 6-7 times less than today. In addition to Lithuania, Rokiskis supplied dairy products to other countries.

In 1991, the privatization of the state-owned company Rokiškio sūrių gamykla began. Market economy prevailed over socialism. Times have changed, but entrepreneurship seems to have finally found its way and gained momentum. The market economy did not hinder the company's activity - on the contrary, it allowed it to become the strongest company in Lithuania and all Baltic countries. Rokiškio sūris made its way to Western markets where quality requirements were much higher; therefore, the company invested a significant portion of its profits in new technologies.

On February 27, 1992, the joint-stock company Rokiškio sūris was registered. The initial shareholders were the company's employees. In 1994, the company welcomed its first foreign investors. In 1997, foreign capital investments reached 2 million USD. In 1999, the EBRD, together with the Bermuda Bank, invested 40 million Lithuanian litas (11.5 million euros). Foreign investors not only replenished the company's capital but also helped shape the Western attitude of the personnel towards work.

During this period, the company improved its positions in the local market, ensured uninterrupted supply of raw materials, and also acquired smaller Lithuanian dairy processing companies such as Utenos pienas and milk plants in Zarasai, Ukmergė, Šalčininkai, Eišiškės, Varena, Ignalina, Jonava, and Švenčioniai. Currently, the Rokiškio sūris AB group includes three production sites located in the cities of Rokiškis, Utena, and Ukmergė.