This Saturday took place the official inauguration of Vale da Estrela Dairy in Mangualde, a ceremony that was attended by local authorities.

In addition to Jorge Coelho, the official inauguration of Vale da Estrela Dairy was attended by the mayor of Mangualde, João Azevedo, as well as by religious, cultural and associative authorities of the municipality of Mangualde.

Jorge Coelho stressed that the return “to my origins, is a return to the land that saw me born and made a man out of me and that’s why I’m happy to be here with the production of Serra da Estrela DOP cheese”. On the other hand, it is also a gesture in memory of his grandfather who had a professional life associated with the commercialization of Serra da Estrela cheese.

Jorge Coelho also mentioned that another motivation has to do with the promotion and valuation of this territory, and also of the people who live here.

The words of João Azevedo were also in this sense, pointing out  Vale da Estrela Dairy as an example of initiatives that are a strong stimulus to development and to the improvement of the population’s quality of life.

In concrete terms, according to the Mayor of Mangualde, “this investment, in addition to the economic added value, also resulted in more jobs, direct and indirect, and an appreciation of the primary sector, namely for those dedicated to pastoralism”.

Vale da Estrela Dairy produces cottage and PDO Serra da Estrela cheese, has recently started its activity and its products are already marketed in mainland Portugal.

The first export steps are also being taken.

Spain was the pioneer market with the export of a few hundred cheeses to El Corte Inglés.