FDBusiness.com

Raisio, the Finnish foods and functional food ingredients manufacturer famous for its Benecol brand, and Danish DLA Group have signed a co-operation agreement to coordinate their procurement activities in several product fields. Initially, the co-operation will mainly concern feed raw materials and production inputs. However, Raisio and DLA Group will also explore opportunities for co-operation in Eastern Europe.

DLA Group coordinates wholesale trading activities for 31 co-operative and privately owned raw materials companies in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the Baltic States. DLA Group holds a significant position on the Scandinavian agro market and together with the member companies employs a total of 2,500 people and has a total retail turnover of DKr19b.

“DLA already operates in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the Baltic countries, and we are convinced that we are now getting a partner that shares our objectives and operates under the same high procurement principles as we do. With this procurement partnership, Raisio can significantly strengthen its competitiveness in the Finnish market,” explains Pasi Lähdetie, director of grain trade operations at Raisio.

Peter Iversen, managing director of DLA Group, believes that the co-operation will bring new opportunities for the procurement activities of both parties: “Our objective is to make DLA Group a competitive player in the Northern European raw material market. Together with our international partners, we will be able to take advantage of sourcing larger volumes and to start new activities in new market areas.”

Raisio is Finland’s largest industrial grain processor. The company employs some 1,500 people and operates in twelve countries. Raisio’s main market areas are Finland, UK, Sweden, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Baltic countries.