The Icelandic dairy product skyr has proven a hit in Norway and Finland in the past months. Next month a Norwegian company will launch production of skyr with a permit from the Icelandic dairy company MS for the Swedish market.
In the autumn, Icelanders enjoy skyr with wild berries. Photo by ESA.
The export of dairy products from Iceland has increased significantly, by 160 percent year-over-year in the case of skyr. The export of butter and skimmed milk powder has also increased, Morgunbladid reports.
This year 300 tons of skyr will be delivered to Finland; more than double the amount of last year. Also, in early November the first container with the protein drink Hledsla will be delivered to Finland. This marks a new experiment in export.
Hledsla is mainly made from pure Icelandic whey, a dairy byproduct which has been traditionally significant but hasn’t been popular in Iceland in recent decades until the new protein drink became a hit.
Skyr is also exported to the US—approximately 120 tons this year—and Jón Axel Pétursson, managing director of the sale and marketing division of MS, said he has sensed interest for the product on other markets as well, like Argentina and Japan.
ESA
