What Zemaitijos Pienas does

Žemaitijos Pienas AB is a publicly listed Lithuanian dairy processor founded in 1924 and headquartered in Telšiai, operating 1,200+ employees across its main facility plus two subsidiaries (Klaipėdos pienas and Šilutės Rambynas). The company produces 200+ products across 14+ sub-brands spanning fresh and fermented dairy (Žemaitijos, Dobilas, Saulutė), premium and snacking cheeses (Džiugas with PGI protection, Germantas, Pik-Nik, Rambyno, Jon-Chedar, Magija), mineral water and beverages (Tichė, Gaja, Morta, Mona), and milk powders. Its technology base rests on proprietary food-engineering assets — BACTOCATCH membrane milk purification (first deployed in Lithuania in 1997), the FLUCU 1986 curd-snack process, and the patented PIK-NIK peelable cheese structure — supported by ISO 9001, ISO 22000, and FSSC 22000 certifications plus 20+ years of NATO qualification for Tichė mineral water.

The business model is sales-led, distributing through Lithuanian retail chains, wholesale exporters reaching 16 international markets, and direct-to-consumer via the ciamarket.lt e-shop. Customers are predominantly retail consumers (general Lithuanian shoppers and export-market end users) with a secondary premium segment of gourmet and foodservice buyers served by Džiugas; no enterprise anchor customers are disclosed. The company is certified to international quality standards and holds EU Protected Geographical Indication status for Džiugas cheese (2019) and Kastinys, locking in origin-protected positioning.

Recent strategic activity is capital-return-oriented: a EUR 1.3M+ share buyback executed in late 2025 at EUR 2.40 per share, followed by a April 2026 capital reduction that cancelled 765,951 shares, reducing share capital to EUR 11,881,749.21. Product-side activity has continued with the 2024 launch of Džiugas dried cheese balls and partnerships with US cheesemaker John Ludy (Jon-Chedar) and the Lithuanian Dairy Farms Association on forage optimization. The financials provided are not reliable due to apparent data corruption, so quantitative performance assessment is not feasible from the input.

Name

Zemaitijos Pienas

Legal name

Žemaitijos Pienas, AB

Website

https://zpienas.lt

Company type

Public

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Žemaitijos Pienas is a Lithuanian public dairy processor founded in 1924, producing 200+ products across 14+ brands — including PGI-protected Džiugas cheese, Pik-Nik sticks, and NATO-certified Tichė mineral water — distributed to retail consumers across Lithuania and 16 export markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dairy Products

NAICS

Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115), Creamery Butter Manufacturing (311512), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Greek/Strained Yogurt & High-Protein Cultured Dairy Manufacturing (AFAHADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Butter & Ghee Manufacturing (AFAKAKAD), Drinkable Yogurt & Kefir Manufacturing (AFAHADAC), Milk Kefir & Cultured Dairy Drink Production (AFAFAHAC), Yogurt & Cultured Dairy (Yogurt, Kefir, Sour Cream, Cottage Cheese) (CRADACAB), Dairy Spreads, Dips & Cream Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAL)

Keywords

• Dairy products
• Cheese production
• Milk processing
• Mineral water
• Organic dairy

Headquarters

HQ city

Telsiai

HQ country

Lithuania

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Dairy Product Sales: Revenue generated from manufacturing and selling dairy products including milk, cheese, curd, kefir, butter, and processed dairy items. Products sold through retail channels in Lithuania and export markets.
2. Mineral Water and Beverages: Revenue from TICHĖ mineral water and branded beverages including Gaja soft drinks, Morta kvass, and Mona soda water.
3. E-commerce Direct Sales: Direct consumer sales through company's e-shop at ciamarket.lt.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Žemaitijos Pienas is a Lithuanian dairy processing company that manufactures and sells a wide range of dairy and beverage products, including milk, butter, cheese, cottage cheese, cream, kefir, fermented dairy, mineral water, and soft drinks. The company operates 14+ brands and produces over 200 SKUs, with products sold through retail chains in Lithuania and exported to 16 international markets.

Product overview

Zemaitijos Pienas is a Lithuanian dairy company operating since 1924, producing over 200 products across multiple brands. The portfolio centers on the main Žemaitijos brand offering fermented dairy products (kefir, curd, sour cream) and A2 lactose-free milk, complemented by the premium Džiugas hard cheese (PGI-protected, aged up to 120 months), the organic Dobilas line (first organic dairy in Baltics), and classic Germantas cheeses. Snack brands include Pik-Nik peelable cheese sticks, Rambyno smoked cheese snacks, Jon-Chedar cheddar bites, and Magija chocolate-coated curd snacks. The beverage division includes Tichė mineral water (689m deep well, NATO-certified), Gaja soft drinks, Morta kvass, and Mona soda water. Saulutė offers premium butter/spreads including Ghee. Milk Powder products meet ISO 22000/FSSC 22000 standards. The company celebrated its centennial in 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Žemaitijos: Core dairy products brand with long-lasting traditions including fermented products, kefir, sour cream, and A2 lactose-free products.
• Dobilas
• Džiugas
• Germantas
• Rambyno
• Pik-Nik
• Jon-Chedar
• Magija
• Tichė
• Gaja
• Morta
• Mona
• Saulutė
• Pieno miltai

Products and services

• Žemaitijos Core dairy brand offering fermented products (sour milk, kefir, curd, sour cream), A2 lactose-free products, traditional dairy items including milk, butter, and kastinys with Protected Geographical Indication. Made from natural milk with long-lasting traditions.
• Dobilas First organic dairy product line in the Baltic States, offering yogurts, curd, milk, lactose-free drinking yogurts, cheese, and kefir. Targeted at consumers seeking certified organic dairy alternatives.
• Džiugas Premium hard cheese made from highest quality free-grazing cow milk, aged 12-120 months. Holds Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status from the European Commission (2019). Has earned 90 international awards including DLG, Crystal Taste, Superior Taste Award, and Anuga. Targeted at gourmets and cheese enthusiasts.
• Germantas Classic semi-hard cheese available in Gouda and Tilsit varieties. Made from four ingredients: milk, salt, starter culture, and non-animal rennet. Free from preservatives and synthetic additives. Suitable for hot and cold dishes.
• Rambyno Smoked melted cheese snacks and spreadable cheeses with crispy edible collagen casing. Includes smoked cheese sticks, sliced and spreadable cheeses. Naturally smoked with alder wood, no synthetic colorants or preservatives. Has earned three international awards.
• Pik-Nik Peelable mozzarella cheese sticks with patented easy-to-tear structure. Rich in calcium, phosphorus, vitamins A and D, and protein. No preservatives, colorants, or flavor enhancers. Has earned 22 international awards for taste and quality. Targeted at children and families.
• Jon-Chedar Cheddar cheese bites created in collaboration with cheese expert John Ludy (APITCA President). Made using cheddaring process. Vegetarian, preservative-free, rich in calcium and protein. Available in BBQ, tzatziki with chili, and cayenne with garlic and juniper flavors.
• Magija Chocolate-coated curd snacks with silky-soft texture using proprietary FLUCU 1986 production technology. Classic vanilla line has been most popular in Lithuania for 11 consecutive years. Includes PROTEIN M line with protein and collagen. Has earned 26 international awards.
• Tichė Natural mineral water extracted from 689-meter-deep well in Telšiai. Medium-mineralized sulfate, calcium, and magnesium water with natural alkalinity (pH 7.6-8). NATO-certified for 20 consecutive years. Also offers flavored sparkling table waters.
• Gaja Soft drinks and tonics made from natural mineral water Tichė. Includes carbonated and non-carbonated fruit-flavored drinks, tonic waters. No artificial colorants. Wide flavor range including pomegranate, cactus-lemon, exotic fruits, and fruit flavors.
• Morta Bread kvass flavored sparkling beverage made from natural malt and Tichė mineral water. Traditional Lithuanian kvass taste with modern royal touch. Targeted at consumers seeking authentic traditional beverages.
• Mona Soda water produced from Tichė mineral water. Sparkling yet gentle, suitable for refreshment after meals or as daily beverage. Available in lime-lemon flavor.
• Saulutė Premium butter and spreads made from natural milk. Includes spreadable butter blends (72% fat) and Ghee (clarified butter, 99.9% fat). Easy-spread texture even when refrigerated. Targeted at cooking and baking applications.
• Pieno miltai (Milk Powder) Whole milk powder and whey powder products with high protein content exceeding standard regulations. Free-flowing, non-clumping, no preservatives or colorants. Certified to ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000 standards. Targeted at B2B and industrial buyers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90 international awards for Džiugas hard cheese
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lithuanian Dairy Farms AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partnership for Optimization of Forage Production in Dairy Farms Using Innovative Technologies. The project aims to increase agricultural competitiveness by introducing advanced technologies and innovations in dairy farming forage production.
• Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientific and research partners in the forage optimization project. Scientists and consultants provide expertise for the dairy farm optimization initiative.
• 10 Selected Dairy FarmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating farms in the forage production optimization project with total research area of 150 hectares. Farms collaborate, share experiences, and apply latest technologies.
• John Ludy / APITCAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with John Ludy, President of APITCA (American Producers of Italian Type Cheese Association), for development of Jon-Chedar cheddar chip product line. John Ludy contributed cheesemaking expertise.
• Klaipėdos pienascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup company that received ISO 9001 Quality Management and ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System certificates along with Šilutės Rambynas under Žemaitijos Pienas.
• Šilutės RambynascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup company part of the Žemaitijos Pienas group, receiving quality certifications together with Klaipėdos pienas.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Valio: Finnish multinational dairy and food company with a broad portfolio of cheeses, yogurts, milk powders, and ingredients. Comparable in product breadth and export orientation from a Nordic base, serving similar European and B2B customers.
• Emmi Group: Swiss dairy processor with premium and specialty cheese focus alongside fresh dairy. Comparable in emphasis on premium, regional-origin cheese brands and international expansion strategy from a smaller home market.
• FrieslandCampina: Dutch dairy cooperative with leading positions in cheese, butter, milk powder, and dairy ingredients. Comparable in product mix and serves similar B2B ingredients customers (whey, milk powders) as well as branded retail.
• Lactalis: French global dairy giant and the world's largest cheese producer. Competes across European and international cheese categories with substantial scale advantage in branded cheese, including premium and PGI-style products.
• Hochwald: German dairy cooperative focused on condensed milk, cheese, and dairy ingredients with strong export business. Comparable in B2B ingredients exposure (milk powder, whey) and European retail cheese competition.
• Arla Foods: Danish-Swedish farmer-owned dairy cooperative, one of the largest dairy producers in the world with broad cheese, butter, and milk powder portfolio. Direct competitive overlap in European cheese, butter, and whey markets as a major incumbent.

Direct peers

• Pieno žvaigždės: Lithuanian dairy group producing fermented dairy, milk, and cheese under brands including 'Natura' and 'Spėkė.' Competes head-to-head with Žemaitijos Pienas in domestic retail and is a fellow Vilnius Stock Exchange-listed dairy peer.
• Vilkyškių pieninė: Lithuanian dairy processor producing hard cheeses (including Parmesan-style), butter, cream, and whey products. Comparable in scale and product mix, with a similarly strong focus on cheese and direct competition in Lithuanian and export markets.
• Rokiškio sūris: One of the largest Lithuanian dairy processors, producing cheese, butter, milk powder, and whey ingredients. Direct domestic competitor to Žemaitijos Pienas across core dairy categories and the most natural regional comparable.

Regional players

• Food Union: Baltic-based dairy and ice cream group (Latvia/Estonia/Lithuania operations) producing fresh dairy, cheese, and ice cream. Direct competitor across the Baltic region with overlapping product portfolio and similar export orientation to CIS and EU markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/zpienas

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zemaitijos Pienas