The Charm factory starts now

The Charm project started back in the winter of 20-21 after the devastating fire at Polarbröd's bakery in Älvsbyn in the summer of 2020. The initiators were Polarbröd and Älvsbyn municipality. The vision is for Älvsbyn to become a hub for sustainable food and drink production.

The project has now been granted funding from both the region and the EU and can start the next phase, a three-year operation under the name Charm factory. In addition to the physical lab, the project also consists of lectures and workshops.

"Working with sustainable food supply up here in Norrbotten is extremely interesting both because there is such potential linked to fine raw materials, good areas and great commitment, but also linked to the international situation we are in. It is highly topical to review our local food supply as well, both locally and nationally," says Maja Berggren, newly appointed project manager for the Charm factory.

Älvsbyn municipality is behind the project, in collaboration with Charm i Norr ekonomisk förening. The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Region Norrbotten, the Anna Borgeryd Memorial Foundation, Polarbröd AB, Sparbanken Nord and Älvsbyn Municipality.

"It's great that we now have the chance to develop Charm together with other companies here in the north. The food supply of the future is a crucial issue, both in terms of self-sufficiency, culture, sustainability and quality of life," says Karin Bodin, CEO of the Polarbröd Group.

Lennart Håkansson

editor@northswedenbusiness.com