FDBusiness.com

Royal FrieslandCampina is acquiring cheese specialist Zijerveld and its packaging unit Den Hollander Food from and MYWO Food Group. The acquisition will enable FrieslandCampina Cheese to offer customers a more comprehensive cheese portfolio and package of services.

The acquisition of Zijerveld is in line with FrieslandCampina’s ambitions to grow in added value cheese products. Zijerveld Food not only offers its clients a wide range of specialty items such as the North Holland cheeses (PDO ) and farmhouse cheeses but also knowledge, tailor-made concepts and its own logistics services. The company has a turnover of over Eur400 million.

Cees ‘t Hart, chief executive of Royal FrieslandCampina, comments: “This investment is in line with our route2020 ambitions to become a preferred supplier for our clients in various market segments. Zijerveld complements our existing business in the pre-pack segment and contributes to further value growth for our customers, in particular in the fresh counter segment with specialty cheeses.”

Matthieu Zijerveld, one of the three brothers involved in the family-owned MYWO Food Group, says: “By teaming up with FrieslandCampina Cheese, we can roll out our business model to other countries where FrieslandCampina has a presence, ensure the continuity of our cheese supply and further strengthen our current business in the Netherlands. Zijerveld will continue to be managed by its current management team.”

Zijerveld provides a comprehensive range of Dutch-type cheeses and cheeses from foreign countries while also offering its customers tailor-made concepts and its own logistics services. The cheese specialist, which is located in Bodegraven, employs about 300 people and has its own ripening warehouses, packaging and logistics locations. Zijerveld consists of three commercial divisions: ‘Retail’, ‘Traditional & Out of Home’ and ‘International Markets’. Zijerveld continues to operate independently and retains its own identity.

Den Hollander Food, the packaging business unit of Zijerveld, is located in Lochem (the Netherlands). The cheese packer has thirteen packaging lines and three grated cheese lines. The focus is on sliced cheeses in various reclosable packages. The majority of production is for large European retailers and for other cheese producers. The packaging unit has about 140 employees.

Branded cheese, dairy-based beverages and infant and toddler nutrition are key value drivers of FrieslandCampina’s corporate strategy outlined in route2020.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including required regulatory approvals.