THE NETHERLANDS – Friesland Foods will be the new name for Friesland Coberco Dairy Foods as of 1 January 2005, although it hopes it will become known by a more regal name.

On 7 June, Holland’s Queen Beatrix gave the company the Royal designation to mark its 125th anniversary, making the full name of the company Koninklijke Friesland Foods. It hopes it will be generally known as Royal Friesland Foods.

The current name is the result of a merger between four co-operatives at the end of 1997.