Food News

The members of the two dairy cooperatives still have to accept the proposal, and the antitrust authorities must also give their approval, because the merger would create a real ‘super-cooperative’.

In a joint press release, the two milk-processing companies emphasised that the merger would globally strengthen the further development of the market segments for ‘white dairy products’ and ingredients, also with regard to the topics of sustainability and production efficiency. If the merger goes ahead, a group founded by farmers would be created that sources its raw materials from 11,000 dairy farms (members). The combined turnover would be around €14 billion. The 16,000 shareholders are dairy farms in the Netherlands, Belgium, northern France and Germany. The plans are to take shape to such an extent by mid-2025 that the merger agreement can be submitted to the shareholders for voting and then the competition authorities will have to review this deal.

YOUR PLUS: The laboratories of the AGROLAB GROUP, in particular AGROLAB LUFA, have been reliable analytical partners to the dairy industry for many decades – from the pasture and the stable to the cheese counter.

Author: Dr. Frank Mörsberger, AGROLAB GROUP