European dairy giant Arla Foods, which counts Sweden as among its largest markets, has struck a deal that will see local co-op Gefleortens merge into the business.

An Arla spokesperson said the deal, approved this week by Sweden’s competition regulator, would give it access to more milk and “an increased regional presence in northern central Sweden”.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Gefleortens is a small Swedish co-op, with 59 farmers supplying the business with milk. The company, based in the city of Gävle, markets dairy products including liquid milk, yogurt and cream under its namesake brand.

Arla said it would keep Gefleortens’ dairy in Gävle open and retain all of the co-op’s staff.

In a statement, Arla chairman Åke Hantoft pointed to the group’s need to source more milk locally for two products. “We see a need for more Swedish milk raw materials in the coming years of both Arla Milk and Arla Organic Milk,” Hantoft ?said.

Thomas Lundgren, chairman of Gefleorten’s dairy association, said: “Our goal has always been to ensure stable and long-term conditions for the milk production of members while ensuring that the brand and dairy continue to develop.”

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact