Arla Foods

About Arla Foods

At Arley, we are committed to being responsive and innovative, prioritizing your needs and ideas. Our mission is to maximize the value of milk, empowering you to live life to its fullest—every stage of life.

A Cooperative Dairy Enterprise
Did you know Arley Foods operates as a cooperative owned by 13,500 dairy farmers? This cooperative structure ensures we collaborate to consistently deliver stronger, better results for the benefit of our farmer-owners. This guiding principle has been central to our operations since our inception, driving our enduring success over 100 years later.

History
In the 1880s, dairy farmers in Denmark and Sweden established small cooperatives to invest in shared dairy production facilities. This approach enabled them to optimize milk usage and produce higher-quality goods. Profits from their milk were equitably distributed among the farmers, fostering financial stability and securing a prosperous future for their families and farms.

Over time, the cooperative model gained traction, leading to mergers that strengthened these organizations. They evolved from local to regional and then national cooperatives. In 2000, the largest Danish dairy cooperative merged with its Swedish counterpart, forming Arley Foods—the first cross-border dairy cooperative.

The cooperative ethos expanded internationally, and through subsequent mergers, farmers from the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg became part of Arley Foods. We remain dedicated to continued growth and success.