Dutch FrieslandCampina and Belgian Milcobel are now closing in on the final decision regarding a historic merger that will bring together two of Europe’s major dairy co-operatives into a single organisation.
It is a year since the intention to merge was first announced. Since then, a detailed merger proposal has been drafted, published, and discussed by members in both countries.
The final decision will be made next week – on Tuesday, 16 December 2025 – by FrieslandCampina’s Members’ Council and Milcobel’s Extraordinary General Meeting respectively. Approval requires a two-thirds majority at FrieslandCampina and a three-quarters majority at Milcobel.
Back in October, the European Commission approved the proposed merger between FrieslandCampina and Milcobel. The Commission’s review concluded that the merger does not pose a significant obstacle to competition in the relevant markets, including the trade in cheese and fresh dairy products in the Netherlands, Belgium and France.
Once – or if – the merger is formally adopted, the new joint co-operative will become one of the largest players in the European dairy sector, with approximately:
• around 16,000 member-owners
• a total annual milk intake of about 10 billion kilos
• a turnover of roughly 14 billion euros
After the New Year, an even larger European dairy merger is expected: that between Arla Foods and DMK. That merger is still awaiting regulatory approval, which is anticipated in the first quarter of 2026.
By Lene Mikkelsen Walsh
Photo: FrieslandCampina
