FrieslandCampina, Milcobel members approve merger
Deal to take effect Jan. 1, 2026, creating new districts
29 December 2025
2 minute read
By: FrieslandCampina and Milcobel have approved a proposed merger of the two dairy cooperatives, with both bodies voting in favour by a large majority, according to a joint press release. The merger will take effect Jan. 1, 2026.
Sybren Attema, chair of the board of Zuivelcoöperatie FrieslandCampina U.A., said the approval marked an important step for both organisations.
“We are pleased that our Members’ Council and Milcobel’s Extraordinary General Meeting have approved the merger. This is a logical step. We are joining forces, increasing our scale, and strengthening our market positions. Together we are stronger,” Attema said.
Betty Eeckhaut, chair of the board of Milcobel, said the merger reflects shared long-term goals.
“This merger stems from our shared ambition to offer our member dairy farmers and their successors a future with stability and good income. By joining forces, we increase our impact,” she said.
As of Jan. 1, 2026, Milcobel’s member dairy farmers will become full cooperative members of FrieslandCampina, with the same rights, obligations and milk price system as existing members. The companies said this will ensure equal treatment and participation across the cooperative.
The integration will be led by the cooperative’s board and the company’s executive team. Attema will remain chair of the board of Zuivelcoöperatie FrieslandCampina U.A. and of the supervisory board of Royal FrieslandCampina N.V.. Eeckhaut will join the cooperative’s board and take a seat on FrieslandCampina’s supervisory board.
Jan Derck van Karnebeek will continue as CEO of Royal FrieslandCampina N.V. Former Milcobel CEO Peter Grugeon will become president of the Professional business group on April 1, 2026, joining FrieslandCampina’s executive team. He will succeed Roger Loo, who will take over as president of Specialised Nutrition from Harvey Uong, who will leave the company on April 1, 2026.
The merger will also create two new districts within FrieslandCampina. Milcobel-West, District 15, will cover northeast Flanders, the Bruges area, the Westhoek, southwest Flanders and southeast Flanders. Milcobel-East, District 16, will include Kempenland, northwest Antwerp, Limburg and Brabant, and the Cercle Francophone.
The district councils will be led by Bram Maes in the west and Vanessa Tindemans-Van Eynde in the east. Each council will have eight to 10 elected dairy farmers and will serve as the district’s contact point. Together, the districts will form part of the Members’ Council, with voting weight based on milk volume supplied.
Milcobel’s business units will be integrated into FrieslandCampina’s existing business groups. The companies said the merger will create an internationally operating dairy company with a broad product portfolio and a strong position in Europe and beyond. FrieslandCampina’s headquarters will remain in Amersfoort.
