Orkla Food Ingredients takes over Dutch ice-cream company

By Jim Cornall

- Last updated on GMT

Orkla Food Ingredients has taken over Laan Heiloo to strengthen its position in the Dutch ice-cream market. Pic: ©iStock/Tatomm
Orkla Food Ingredients has taken over Laan Heiloo to strengthen its position in the Dutch ice-cream market. Pic: ©iStock/Tatomm
Norwegian company Orkla Food Ingredients (OFI) has signed and closed an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in the Netherlands sales and distribution company Laan Heiloo B.V.

The deal was struck through OFI’s subsidiary Idun Industri AS.

Laan is a supplier of ingredients and accessories to the ice cream market in the Netherlands.

Orkla Food Ingredients said it has built up a strong position in the ready-to-use soft-serve ice cream mix and accessories category in the Netherlands, and the businesses are a good match.

In 2015, OFI acquired German company Eisunion and of 55% of the shares in the two Dutch companies Frusco and Briceland.

Growth in the Netherlands

Pål Eikeland, Orkla EVP and CEO of OFI said the acquisition was in line with Orkla's desire to grow in selected categories and markets where there is potential for further growth and synergies.

“We already hold a strong position in the Netherlands soft-serve ice cream market, and our purchase of Laan will also strengthen our foothold in the gelato segment,"​ Eikeland said.

Laan, which has been operating in the Netherlands for more than 60 years, is a family-owned business located in Heiloo, with 15 employees. In 2016, the company had a turnover of €5.8m ($6.1m).

About Orkla

Orkla supplies branded consumer goods for the grocery, out-of-home and bakery markets in the Nordics, Baltics and selected markets in Central Europe and India.

In 2016, the Group had a turnover of approximately 4.5bn, and has around 18,000 employees.

OFI accounts for 23% of Orkla’s total sales revenues. Its biggest product categories are margarine and butter blends, yeast, bread and cake improvers and mixes, marzipan and ice cream ingredients. 

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