Paulig Shuts Swedish Spice Plant, Moves Santa Maria Production to Estonia

Food company Paulig is planning to move all Santa Maria spice production to its Saue factory in Estonia. The shift would close its Mölndal plant in Sweden by summer 2027 at the latest. Trade unions will be consulted as part of the process to meet Swedish labour laws.

The Saue factory opened in 1993 and currently employs 84 workers. It mainly produces Santa Maria spices, marinades, and salsas. Paulig owns the site outright, giving it more control over investments and expansion compared to the leased Mölndal facility.

Closing the Mölndal plant would affect 105 jobs, including all 86 production staff and some office roles. However, Paulig's other Swedish operations—a tortilla factory in Landskrona and a warehouse in Kungsbacka—will remain unaffected. Marketing, development, and support teams will also stay in Mölndal, Solna, and Saue.

The company aims to streamline production, cut costs, and improve efficiency. By consolidating Santa Maria's output in Saue, Paulig hopes to strengthen the brand's long-term competitiveness. Discussions with unions Unionen and Livs will follow Swedish co-determination rules before any final decision.

If approved, the transition will be completed by summer 2027. The move would centralise Santa Maria's spice production in Estonia while keeping other Swedish operations intact. Paulig has stressed that the change is about managing rising costs and securing future growth.