At FrieslandCampina we are proud of our long history of solid performance. It’s all down to our culture of co-operation, commitment and pragmatism.
FrieslandCampina has deep roots in the culture and commerce of the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. We are a global company, but we focus on local communities and customers. In many countries outside Europe we have deep roots as well. Our farms, factories, initiatives and products have long been a part of the fabric of daily life.
Our name reflects our rich history. Friesland is a region in the north of the Netherlands known for its green meadows, blue skies, lakes and splendid Frisian dairy herds. Campina is a wooded region of grasslands and meadows in the south of the Netherlands, so named by the Romans more than 20 centuries ago.
Today both names – and their many brands – are known all over the globe.
Firmly anchored in the regions
We began on local farms in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium in the late-19th Century. Many of these farms are still with us today, and their farmers just as firmly anchored to their regions and local communities as were their forebears.
While some things are timeless, others change. Over the years, together with our managers, these farmers have built an international dairy company that spans the world.
That they have done so, while remaining loyal to the same sustainable values on which their ancestors founded the farms, is a testimony to the effectiveness of our co-operative farming model.
Co-operative growth
In late December 2008 FrieslandCampina is comprised of two great Dutch dairy companies: Friesland Foods and Campina, which developed along similar lines.
It starts in the 1870s when farmers join forces in local co-operative dairy factories all over the Netherlands. They do this to safeguard sales of their milk (without modern refrigeration they have to work together) and to gain more power in the market.
Later, local dairy factories merge into regional dairy factories. These smaller co-operatives begin joining together in the 1960s, creating the first big national brands.
DOMO for example serves the provinces Groningen and Drenthe and Coberco covers Gelderland and Overijssel.
In the west of the Netherlands, several co-operatives merge into Melkunie Holland in 1979. Melkunie Holland also acquires several privately owned dairy companies.
1979 is also the year that DMV Campina is established in the South.
DMV Campina en Melkunie Holland merge into Campina Melkunie in 1989.
In 1997 four major co-operatives in the north and east of the Netherlands merge to create Friesland Coberco, which later becomes Friesland Foods.
In 2001, Campina merge with the Milchwerke Köln/Wuppertal co-operative from Cologne, Germany and the De Verbroedering co-operative from the Antwerp region of Belgium. This creates the international Campina co-operative.
In December 2007, Friesland Foods and Campina announce their intentions to merge. One year later, in December 2008, we receive the approval of the European competition authorities to become FrieslandCampina.
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Sustainable growth
Growth is an essential part of life. We aim for sustainable growth – growth that keeps in balance the needs of people, communities and nature, as well as of our business.
We have grown by expanding our company and through well-founded mergers and acquisitions. We have managed this alongside the milk quota system introduced in 1984 to manage milk production levels in the EU.
The Dutch dairy industry begins export in the 1910s, spurred on by the advent of condensed milk and milk powder. By the 1920s the Netherlands is the largest dairy exporter in the world. This comes through improved quality, new products and new markets in Africa, the Middle East and Far East. During the Depression, the co-operative structure allows farmers to keep quality high. At this point Dutch dairy expands further and faster than ever.
Crucial for our international development during the 20th century is the foundation of ccFriesland in 1913. Several dairy coops in the province of Friesland found this Co-operative for sales of Concentrated milk, located in Friesland. ccFriesland initiates many activities outside Europe in the twenties and thirties already. Due to the connections of the Dutch with Indonesia ccFriesland builds up its position in Indonesia as well. ccFriesland establishes the sales office in Hong Kong in 1936. In 1968 ccFriesland founds Phranakorn Milk Industries in Thailand and in 1969 it establishes a joint venture in Vietnam with Cosuvina for the sales of Dutch Baby. In 1974 ccFriesland founds the West Africa Milk Company (WAMCO), combining local production in Nigeria with imports from The Netherlands.
In the nineties and the early years of the 21st century the development of our companies is more concentrated on Europe. Apart from co-operative mergers we take over other dairy companies. These acquisitions include the Campina Melkunie acquisitions of Comelco from Belgium in 1991 and Südmilch from Germany in 1993. The Südmilch take over is followed by some other partnerships and acquisitions for consumer products in Germany, as well as other European and Asian countries. Friesland Coberco acquires the Nutricia Dairy & Drinks Group in 2001, with subsidaries in many countries.
In the nineties Friesland Foods as well as Campina also acquire companies in the food service and ingredients businesses and established partnerships with other companies.
These takeovers widen our international perspective. Through Germany we enter the Russian market successfully in 2000. Through the Nutricia Dairy & Drinks Group takeover we become active in Hungary and Rumania.
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Our brands have stood the test of time
Today Dutch cheeses – think of full-bodied Gouda, creamy Edam and nutty Maasdam cheese– are famous all over the world. They’re one of many legacies of the popularity of Dutch dairy over the years.
FrieslandCampina’s own legacy is its many well-known brands. Brands like Frisian Flag, a household name in Indonesia, Dutch Lady, a leader in Vietnam and Malaysia, and DMV International, well known to customers of our milk proteins worldwide.
Many of our brands stretch back decades. We introduce Frisian Flag, Dutch Lady and Bonnet Rouge in 1919. De Meijerij Veghel (DMV) follows in 1926 and Frico in 1929. We launch Campina in 1947 and Mona sweet desserts in The Netherlands in 1979.
These brands – and many more like them – have stood the test of time. Supported by the combined strength of the merger of Friesland Foods and Campina, they appear better placed than ever to serve your needs
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