SWEDEN/GERMANY – Arla Foods, Europe’s largest dairy company, is claiming major sales increases in Germany.

Its policy of following market-led expansion with mainly convenience dairy foods is keeping the processor on course for a 306 million euro turnover in 2001. An increase in turnover of over 10% is expected for German sales alone.

Playing a major part in the company’s success story is Buko cream cheese, number two in the German market. This year sales of Buko – with flavours including garden herbs and garlic – are expected to top 40 million units.

Total cheese sales this year for Arla in Germany should reach 65,000 tonnes. Heavy advertising has pushed formerly traditional Swedish cheeses into the public eye in Germany and led to increased sales of products such as H