Dutch dairy cooperative FrieslandCampina has agreed to sell its operations in Romania to Bonafarm Group.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
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The deal includes FrieslandCampina’s stake in the entity in Romania that owns the Napolact brand. Just Food asked for further details.
It also covers two production sites in Cluj-Napoca and Târgu Mureș as well as approximately 400 employees.
In a statement, the owner of Campina, Friesche Vlag, and Dutch Lady brands said the deal aligns with its strategy to focus on “core markets, high value-added growth segments” and “synergies across the company”.
FrieslandCampina said it wants to concentrate on markets where milk from its member dairy farmers can be “optimally valorised”.
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By GlobalDataDespite holding a leading position in the local dairy market, the Romanian operations offer “limited synergy” with FrieslandCampina’s Europe portfolio, the dairy group said.
Bonafarm Group is expected to provide “capable” management for the Romanian business, it added.
According to Dustin Woodward, president of FrieslandCampina’s operations in Europe, the decision was “not taken lightly”.
He added: “This step enables us to better align the European portfolio with our strategy to maximise the value of FrieslandCampina member milk, allowing us to focus our resources more effectively.”
The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, including clearance from the Romanian Competition Authorities, and is anticipated to close by the end of December.
Attila Csányi, the CEO of Bonafarm Group, said there is a “great opportunity to build the company and the Napolact brand together in the future”, with plans to “invest in the increased capacity of the facilities”.
Last week, FrieslandCampina warned the dairy giant’s profits are expected to come under pressure in the back half of the year due to external factors.
Despite a 6.4% increase in revenue to €6.8bn ($7.9bn) and a 25.7% rise in net profit to €230m in the first half of 2025, the company noted several “headwinds”.
“Consumer confidence is low worldwide, which will impact volumes. Currency developments are expected to have a negative effect, and commodity dairy markets are becoming less favourable. These factors will lead to a lower profitability,” FrieslandCampina said in a statement.
In December, FrieslandCampina signed a framework agreement for a merger with its Belgian peer Milcobel.
The proposed business combination would result in pro-forma revenues exceeding €14bn, with operations in 30 countries, employing almost 22,000 staff, and processing around 10 billion kg of milk.
