FrieslandCampina has received final approval to proceed with its long-anticipated merger with Belgian dairy cooperative Milcobel, effectively resulting in the acquisition of Milcobel by the Dutch group.
The members’ council of FrieslandCampina and the extraordinary general meeting of Milcobel have both approved the transaction by a large majority. The merger will take effect on 1 January 2026. The headquarters of the combined cooperative will remain in Amersfoort, the Netherlands.
According to FrieslandCampina chairman Sybren Attema, the transaction represents a logical step to combine forces, increase scale and strengthen market positions. Under the agreed structure, Milcobel’s member dairy farmers will become full cooperative members of FrieslandCampina. Milcobel’s business units will be integrated into FrieslandCampina’s existing business groups.
The transaction consolidates FrieslandCampina’s position in the Benelux dairy market and marks another instance of cross-border consolidation in the European agri-food cooperative sector.
