Blog: FrieslandCampina looking to sell final non-dairy asset

Dean Best | 2 March 2017

FrieslandCampina, which today served up higher profits but lower sales for 2016, is ready to offload the last non-dairy business owned by the Dutch cooperative giant.

The company is starting to look at the potential sale of Netherlands-based Riedel, which sells ambient and chilled fruit drinks in the Dutch market and in neighbouring Belgium.

Roelof Joosten, the CEO of FrieslandCampina, said: "FrieslandCampina wants to ensure Riedel is best positioned to anticipate and respond to changing customer requirements and consumers habits. Therefore we believe it is important for Riedel to take the next step in its development."

Last year, rival European dairy co-op Arla Foods offloaded its final non-dairy business, selling its Nordic juice and cordials subsidiary Rynkeby Foods to German fruit drinks group Eckes-Granini.

Such deals hardly move the needle financially but, given the volatility in the dairy sector, perhaps it is understandable the likes of FrieslandCampina and Arla are attracted by doubling down on milk.