Arla to Sell Danish Juice Maker Rynkeby to Germany’s Eckes-Granini

20 May 2016 --- Arla Foods has agreed to sell Danish juice producer Rynkeby Foods to Germany's Eckes-Granini group for an undisclosed sum. Arla, which has owned the Rynkeby brand since 1998, first announced that it was to sell Rynkeby- which makes over 130m liters of juice a year- last year, as it was not core to its dairy business.

Rynkeby's juice brands Rynkeby and God Morgon are key players in the Danish juice market.

Eckes-Granini makes a number of branded fruit-based beverages in Europe.

Povl Krogsgaard, deputy chief executive of Arla Foods, said: “Over the past two decades Arla has sold off subsidiaries that do not have a direct link to dairy production in order to focus on our core business. “

“Rynkeby is the last remaining subsidiary in the Arla Group not linked to milk and we believe that the Rynkeby business will be better suited under the ownership of Eckes-Granini who can take the company to the next level in its future development.”

Thomas Hinderer, chairman and CEO of the Eckes-Granini group, said: “The acquisition of Rynkeby Foods is another important milestone in dynamically pursuing the international growth strategy of the Eckes-Granini Group. 

“We are proud to welcome Rynkeby Foods along with its highly motivated professional team and two new, strong brands to the Eckes-Granini Group. The Rynkeby and God Morgon brands round out our portfolio ideally. We are now number one in eight European countries as we continue to pursue our successful course as the leading supplier of fruit beverages.”

As part of the agreement, the parties have agreed on a structure for the continuation of the current distribution set-up.