Dutch company FrieslandCampina offloads its dairy businesses in Romania to Hungarian counterpart Bonafarm.
FrieslandCampina, a Dutch multinational dairy giant, has announced its decision to sell its Romanian dairy operations to Bonafarm Group, a Central European agricultural and food production company controlled by Hungarian businessman Sándor Csányi.
The sale forms part of FrieslandCampina's strategy to focus on core markets and high-value-added growth segments. The move is expected to provide new growth opportunities for the Romanian business and the well-known Napolact brand under Bonafarm Group's leadership.
Sándor Csányi, the CEO of the OTP Group bank and the richest man in Hungary, will oversee the acquisition. Bonafarm Group plans to invest in developing these operations, maintain the existing workforce, and leverage its regional presence to grow the Napolact brand.
The transaction covers FrieslandCampina's stake in the Romanian entity, which employs approximately 400 people. The sale follows a strategic review of FrieslandCampina's activities in Romania, as the operations offer limited synergy with FrieslandCampina's Europe portfolio and do not contribute to the valorization of FrieslandCampina member milk.
Dustin Woodward, president of FrieslandCampina Europe, stated that the decision to divest the operations was not taken lightly. He praised the well-managed Romanian operations, which are supported by an experienced leadership team and an organisation with exceptional talent.
Bonafarm Group aims to preserve strong relationships with commercial and supplier partners in Romania and intends to invest in the increased capacity of the FrieslandCampina Romania facilities. The group also expressed its intention to contribute to the development of the Romanian dairy industry.
The completion of the sale is subject to customary regulatory approvals, including clearance from the Romanian Competition Authorities. The transaction is expected to be finalised by the end of December 2025.
In conclusion, FrieslandCampina's sale of its Romanian dairy operations to Bonafarm Group marks a significant step in both companies' strategies. The Napolact brand is set to undergo growth under Bonafarm Group's leadership, while FrieslandCampina focuses on its core markets and high-value-added growth segments.
The sale of FrieslandCampina's Romanian dairy operations to Bonafarm Group is anticipated to foster growth opportunities within the finance sector, as the OTP Group bank's CEO, Sándor Csányi, will oversee the acquisition. Furthermore, this strategic move within the business industry will allow Bonafarm Group to invest in developing their operations, potentially contributing to the growth and development of the Romanian dairy industry.
