Arla Foods’ subsidiary in Canada has agreed to buy the Canadian cheese importer and producer, National Cheese Company Ltd., with effect from November 1, 2004.

The new company will be a leading supplier of speciality cheese in Canada with a broad portfolio of imported and locally produced cheeses.

Founded in 1960 as a family business, National Cheese employs a staff of 240 and has an annual turnover of approx. DKK 550 million. As well as quality cheeses, the company offers its customers a wide range of speciality food and beverage products through its own distribution system with warehousing in Montreal, Concord (Ontario) and Vancouver.

The company produces cheese at two plants in Ontario and imports cheese from Italy and many other European countries as well as North and South America. The biggest brand, Tre Stelle, is one of Canada’s most well known cheese brands.

”Arla Foods has over 40 years’ experience in the Canadian cheese market. The purchase of National Cheese will enable us to derive full benefit from our thorough knowledge of the Canadian market and will give us a substantial import quota which we’ll use to sell more Danish and Swedish produced cheeses in the country,” says Deputy Managing Director Andreas Lundby, Arla Foods.

Arla Foods’ subsidiary in Toronto, Arla Foods Canada Inc., was established in 1961 and has seen steady growth ever since.
It employs a staff of 14 and imports Arla products, especially cheese, to the value of DKK 250 million from Denmark. It also operates local, licensed production of feta and havarti.
The cheeses are sold under the Rosenborg, Dofino, Dofo, Mediterra and Arla brands.



With the acquisition of National Cheese, which produces one of Canada’s most well known cheese brands, Arla Foods' cheese portfolio for the Canadian market will be significantly enhanced.




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