Acquisition of shares in AFISA

Arla Foods Ingredients has agreed to acquire the shares in Arla Foods Ingredients S.A (AFISA) currently owned by SanCor to support the company’s ambition for market growth in South America.

The members of the Argentinian dairy cooperative SanCor have agreed to sell their 50% stake in AFISA as part of their plan to restructure SanCor.

“Arla Foods Ingredients greatly appreciates the collaboration with SanCor for the last 17 years. SanCor and Arla Foods Ingredients have agreed amicably that it is now time to move forward with our businesses separately. For Arla Foods Ingredients this is a unique opportunity for continued strategic growth in our whey business in general and specifically in South America; and AFISA will become a significant element in Arla Foods Ingredients’ global supply chain,” says Henrik Andersen, Senior Vice President in Arla Foods Ingredients.

With Arla Foods Ingredients, Arla Foods has built a global leader in value-added whey ingredients. From what was once a waste product from cheese production, the Arla Foods’ subsidiary produces whey-based ingredients used for a wide range of products such as infant nutrition, baking, dairy, medical applications and sports nutrition.

AFISA was founded in 2001 and have until now been jointly owned by Arla Foods Ingredients and the Argentinian dairy cooperative SanCor. At its site in the Argentinian province of Cordoba, AFISA processes approximately 900 million kilos of whey every year, which makes it the largest whey processor in Argentina and the South American trade bloc, Mercosur.

Further terms and conditions of the transaction are not disclosed.