Arla given go-ahead to acquire Swedish premium cheese brand Falbygdens

Arla Sverige, Arla Foods' Swedish business, announced earlier this week that its acquisition of Falbygdens from Atria for an undisclosed amount had been approved by the Swedish Competition Authority.

Under the terms of the deal, Arla will acquire the Falbygdens cheese brand and factory in Falköping.

Interestingly, Falbygdens does not manufacture cheese. Instead, cheese is procured in Sweden before it is either flavoured, to produce products such as Whisky Cheese, or packed at its plant.

It also imports cheese from countries including France, Italy and Switzerland. 

Arla will officially take control of Falbygdens on April 1.

In a statement translated from Swedish, Henri de Sauvage, CEO, Arla Sverige, branded its acquisition of Falbygdens "a good deal for consumers, customers and Arla's owners."​ 

"Falbygdens employees have a proud cheesemaking tradition and together with them we can now take the next step in the development of both client and consumer passion and interest in cheese."​

"Falbygdens is a strategic complement to Arla's own cheese business and the acquisition secures a profitable​ market for our owners, Arla farmers,"​ he added. 

When first proposed in October 2014,​ de Sauvage said the acquisition of Falbygdens was "in line"​ with the cooperative's ambitions in the premium cheese segment.