Arla to Sell Dairy in Poland
Arla Foods is disposing of its factory at Goscino in Poland in order to centralise its current production of mozzarella cheese at its dairy plant in Rodkaersbro in Denmark. The move is intended to make mozzarella cheese production for Arla’s European markets more efficient.
Arla has now begun the process of negotiations with a potential buyer to take over its mozzarella dairy in Goscino. The transaction is planned to be finalised by the end of December 2011. The dairy in Goscino also produces yellow cheese and currently employs 100 people.
Senior vice president of Arla Foods, Hans Christensen, who is responsible for Emerging Markets and North America, comments: “Our plans to sell the dairy in Goscino do not change our ambitions on the Polish market. We consider Poland to be a strategic growth market for us, and we remain fully dedicated to continue the current growth of our branded business on this market, which has doubled within the last two years thanks to products like Lurpak butter, Buko cream cheese, and yellow cheese.”
He continues: “Selling the dairy in Goscino makes sense, since most of our mozzarella business is elsewhere in Europe and is not a part of our strategic plans for our brands on the Polish market. Our priority in Poland is to offer the Polish consumers high-quality butter and cheese products and to continue our search for business partner relationships, joint venture opportunities, and acquisitions that will support our category focus.”
