Giant international Dutch dairy cooperatives talking merger

ZALTBOMMEL — Two Dutch international dairy cooperatives are holding merger talks and, if successful, could form the world's third largest of its kind. Brabant-based Campina and Friesland Foods have joint sales of nearly $12 billion and a membership of 17,000 dairy farms in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. Only Switzerland-based Nestlé and Lactalis of France are larger than the Dutch internationals, which already operated in many parts of the world with local factories. Friesland Foods has a presence in 100 countries. The best-known Dutch-owned brand names include Friesche Vlag, Optimel and Milner. If the merger talks are successfully concluded, the membership as well as the regulatory agencies will need to give approval before implementation. The pair supplies ingredients to the food and pharmaceutical industries as well.