Arla sells Delimo to Lactalis

Denmark’s Arla Foods has reduced its stake in the cheese market by selling its import company Delimo A/S, headquartered in Skovinge, Denmark, to French dairy giant Lactalis.

With an annual turnover of approximately DKK 530 million (€71 m) Delimo primarily imports foreign cheese into Denmark and Sweden. The company employs about 120 people, including about 50 at its Swedish company, Delimo AB, the former Kronost.

As owners of Delimo, we have contributed to the import of a huge variety of dairy products to chilled cabinets,” says Arla Foods vice CEO Povl Krogsgaard. “We have now reached a stage where it is natural for the main supplier, Lactalis, to take the business further.”

Since Arla Foods acquired Delimo, the privately-owned Lactalis has bought the Italian cheese exporter, Galbani, also a supplier to Delimo.

With a turnover of approximately €7.5 billion in 2006, Lactalis is currently Europe’s largest dairy company.