Dairy group Arla Foods has played down reports that the company is planning to buy German dairy firm Viöl – but admitted the two sides had held talks over a possible alliance.
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Reports in Germany and Denmark had claimed that Arla, the Danish-Swedish dairy giant, had contacted Viöl over a possible takeover and potential investment in a new dairy near the town of Husum.
However, a spokesman for Arla said the reports were “incorrect”, although he said there had been contact between the two businesses.
“There have been talks but it was more about co-operation,” the spokesman told just-food. “It was very unspecific at this stage.”
Late last year, Arla, which has a limited presence in Germany, named the country as one of a clutch of markets in which it planned to invest.
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By GlobalDataThe spokesman reiterated Arla’s interest in Germany and said the group would look closely at expanding in the country this year.
“Germany is a very important market to us,” he said, although he added whether any interest would “result in announcements is something I cannot say”.
