EU approves Arla’s acquisition of Allgäuland-Käsereien

EU’s competition authorities have given the go-ahead for Arla Foods’ acquisition of Allgäuland-Käsereien in Southern Germany.

Tim Ørting Jørgensen, Executive Vice President in charge of Arla Foods’ international markets, is delighted that Allgäuland-Käsereien will now become a member of the Arla Group. In September, Allgäuland’s milk producers gave the green light to joining Arla. With the EU’s approval in place, the acquisition can now proceed with effect on November 8th.

As Germany is one of Arla’s core markets, the aim is to become one of the country’s leading dairy companies. The first key step towards achieving this ambition was taken at the beginning of the year with the merger with the North German Hansa-Milch, which produces fresh products and butter. With the acquisition of Allgäuland-Käsereien now in place, Arla will also be present in the southern part of Germany.

“We see important potential in Allgäuland-Käsereien’s cheese production. They produce excellent speciality cheeses for which there is important international potential and it is for this reason that the dairy is of interest to Arla Foods. Some of their products will supplement the cheeses Arla already makes, among them the cheeses marketed under the House of Castello® quality brand. We see great potential in Allgäuland’s products and not only in Germany,” says Tim Ørting Jørgensen.

Facts about Allgäuland-Käsereien

• 1,338 milk producers
• 4 production plants
• 306 employees
• 232 million kg milk
• Primarily cheese and butter, but fresh products
• 30 per cent co-ownership of the whey joint venture Milei (70 per cent owned by Japanese partner).
• 50 pct of the joint venture, Bergland (50 per cent owned by Bayernland).
• Annual turnover EUR 307.8 million
• Read more at www.allgaeuland.de