The FrieslandCampina Members’ Council and the Extraordinary General Meeting of Milcobel have approved the proposed merger of the two cooperatives. Both bodies voted in favour by a large majority, meaning the merger will take effect on 1 January 2026.
Said Sybren Attema, Chair of the Board of Zuivelcoöperatie FrieslandCampina U.A.,: “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.”
Added Betty Eeckhaut, Chair of the Board of Milcobel: “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.”
From 1 January 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. This ensures equal treatment and participation for all members within the new 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. Betty Eeckhaut will join the cooperative’s board and take a seat on FrieslandCampina’s Supervisory Board.
Jan Derck van Karnebeek will remain CEO of Royal FrieslandCampina N.V. Peter Grugeon, former CEO of Milcobel, will become President of the Professional business group as of 1 April, joining FrieslandCampina’s executive team. He succeeds Roger Loo, who will take over as President of Specialised Nutrition from Harvey Uong, who will leave the company as of 1 April 2026. We thank Harvey for his dedication and successful contribution to the growth of the Specialised Nutrition business group and wish him every success in his next step. These steps ensure continuity of leadership and governance within the organisation. For more visit frieslandCampina.com
(Pictured: FrieslandCampina CEO Jan Derck van Karnebeek and Milcobel CEO Peter Grugeon)
