Mejeritekniskt Forum

Cecilia von Perglas will be the new Business Unit Director for Dairy & Juice and Chief Commercial Officer for the Retail function at Skånemejerier.

As Business Unit Director for Dairy & Juice and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) for the Retail function Cecilia von Perglas will be part of the management team at Skånemejerier.

Cecilia von Perglas comes from Cloetta, where she has been Sales Director at Cloetta for 2 years. She has 20 years of experience in leading positions in marketing and sales at Cloetta and LEAF and has a good and close relationship with the retail.

– I look with great excitement and humility forward to my new role — and to become part of Skånemejerier, which has a unique position as the leading dairy company in southern Sweden, a national challenger in the dairy business and part of the world’s largest dairy group Lactalis. We can both secure the local values as well as collaborate globally. Together with the employees, I will continue to focus on the customer’s needs, meet market demand and offer sustainable and innovative products, Cecilia von Perglas says in a press release.

Read more HERE

In mid-November, Arla filed a lawsuit against Glada Bonden for trademark infringement. Now Glada Bonden reply with suing Arla for misleading marketing.

The Boxholm-based dairy Glada Bonden has since September produced a cheese, under the label ‘Äkta Boxholms’ (Genuine Boxholm’s). But Arla already produces a cheese called Boxhom and have owned the trademark for a decade. So, after a warning, Arla sued Glada Bonden.

– Any company would defend its brand if there was a copy of their product, Arla’s press manager Erik Bratthall said to ATL in the middle of November.

Now Glada Bonden’s chairman Anders Birgersson states in a press release:

– We have always claimed that cheese made in Boxholm should be named after the place.

He welcomes, that the disagreements will be settled in court, but adds:

– It is not reasonable that cheese from Östersund (where Arla’s cheese is produced. ed) is the only one that can be called Boxholm.

Read more HERE

Skånemejerier, Falköpings mejeri and Norrmejerier have announced that they are following Arla’s increase in milk prices to the farmers.

This week Arla announced that the milk price will raise with 31.2 öre per kilo from December. The competitors Falköpings mejeri, Norrmejerier and Skånemejerier announced that they are following Arla, the market leader.

– Our increase in price must be at least as good as Arlas and preferably even better, Anders Segerström, CEO of Falköpings Mejeri, says to ATL.

Also, Göran Olofsson, chairman of the board of Norrmejerier, anticipates an increase.

– There will most probably be an increase for our farmers as well. The board will meet in December, so I don’t think the raise will come before that, he says to ATL.

At the same time Anders Segerström and Göran Olofsson, both believe that Arla’s increase of 31.2 öre is less than needed, because the production costs for the dairy farmers have increased by about 70 öre per kilo over the past year. They both adds that also the dairies are under pressure. Therefore, they hope for favourable price negotiations with the shops.

Also, Skånemejerier is planning an increase in the milk price, but does not want to mention numbers

– We will of course raise the price of milk to our farmers as well. Our milk price is slightly above the market, but we do not externally share the details of our agreements with suppliers, Anette Gregow communications director at Skånemejerier writes in a text message to ATL.

Read more HERE (only for subscribers)

Swedish researchers have compared the environmental impact between dairy and plant-based alternatives. And conclude, that plant-based products are best for the environment.

The common interest in plant-based alternatives to dairy is more than just a food trend. For instance, a group of researchers from KTH (Royal Institute of Technology) have analysed the differences in the environmental impact between dairy products and plant-based alternatives.

The study is a literature review of 21 scientific articles on the topic – on differences in emissions and resources used for the various products.

According to the media livsmedelifokus.se the comparison shows that the plant-based dairy alternatives have lower or much lower climate effects in almost all cases with two exceptions: water consumption for almond drinks and emissions of ozone-depleting substances in the production of margarine.

– The purpose of our study was to make comparisons between milk and plant-based alternatives. But we could not find studies that made comparisons on biodiversity according to the criteria we had set in advance. Personally, I know that some milk production is good for biodiversity (depending on where the cows graze and how many graze on such areas). However, it seems to be a much smaller part that lives as a ”Bregottkor” than you might think, Björn Hedin, researcher at KTH says to livsmedelifokus.se.

He emphasizes that although the study is funded by Oatly, the researchers have worked independently.

Read more HERE

In a completely new position, Matthew Walker takes office on January 1, 2022. His title will be Vice President Marketing / Marketing Director for Arla Sweden.

Last week, Arla’s new five-year strategy was presented – Future26.In addition a completely new role, Vice President Marketing / Marketing Director, is established to ensure that the goals in the strategy are achieved.

Under Marketing Director Matthew Walker, a management team will be responsible for a number of key functions, including:

• Brand responsibility for Arla and the sustainability agenda
• Category responsibility for milk and yoghurt, cheese and butter
• The Barn, Arla’s in-house agency in Sweden
• Digital and media purchases

Matthew Walker har worked years at Arla. 5 years in the UK with leading positions in marketing and then 5 years with global roles in both innovation and the development of the global brand Arla.

– I am very happy to welcome Matt to Sweden and to our management team. Matt has an unusual drive and curiosity. A boldness to be at the forefront no matter what he does, Kai Gyllström, CEO of Arla Sweden says.

– Understanding the consumer and meeting their needs is my focus. Building trust, innovation and delivering on the fantastic brands that Swedes love is my goal, Matthew Walker says.

See the pressrelease HERE

Lillängen’s Farmhouse Dairy was under investigation when infected cheese was sold.

– It is completely established that goat cheese from Lillängen’s farmhouse dairy was the source of listeria, Mats Lindblad, Control Coordinator at the Swedish Food Agency says to the Nya Wermlands TiIdningen (NWT) – according to food-supply.se

The inspection report shows that Lillängen’s Farmhouse Dairy had several deviations and orders for measures. And had repeatedly deficiencies in food hygiene.

During a routine check on 17 September the control among other things noted both dirt, flies, and condensation.

The Swedish Food Agency demanded measures for all the deviations and promised to be back to investigate whether measures had been carried out.

Despite the dairy was under investigation, cheese sold on October 1. caused the death of at least one person, because it – as we know now – was infected with Listeria.

A ban for the dairy to bring its products to market came on 18 October and on 27 October it was decided that all products Lillängen’s Farmhouse Dairy would be recalled due to listeria.

Shortly afterwards Lillängens dairy closed the business.

Read more HERE

In a press release, Arla comments on the Consumer Ombudsman’s decision to bring Arla’s branding: ‘net zero climate footprint’ to court.

In 2019, Arla’s organic products were launched with net zero climate footprint, something that is achieved through climate compensation among other things.

After a complaint to the Swedish Consumer Agency, the clarity of Arla’s communication on the packaging was questioned and referred to as misleading, because Arla did not clearly describe what Net zero climate footprint means. Since Arla has clarified the communication on the packaging and on its website.

After a long process, the Consumer Ombudsman Thursday 11. November announced that he will try the issue of Arla’s use of the statement ”net zero climate footprint” at a trial.

Victoria Olsson, Head of Sustainability at Arla Sweden, comments on the Consumer Ombudsman’s initiative.

– The calculation methods Arla used for climate compensation follow practice and the climate credits are purchased by qualified programs that follow accepted methodologies for calculations and follow-up of climate compensation projects. We can also state that the experts hired by the Swedish Consumer Agency do not question Arla’s calculations of the products’ climate impact. Arla has placed great emphasis on making the information to consumers as clear as possible on packaging and websites, she says and adds:

– Arla welcomes the development of practices for communicating environmental claims. ‘Net zero’ is a term used in climate work by companies, organizations such as the UN and the EU, as well as by countries. Arla’s intention is none other than to comply with the law and current practice, Victoria Olsson, Sustainability Manager at Arla Sweden, concludes.

Read more HERE

‘Julefil’ is a strong Christmas tradition from Swedish dairies. And now the seasonal product from Norrmejerier and Falköping Dairy is ready.

Norrmejerier’s Christmas ‘fil’ (creamy fermented milk) come every year with a temporary taste. This year, the classic taste of ‘pepperkaker’ (Gingerbread), returns – together with a new flavour of Christmas Apple & Cinnamon.

– Last year, Gingerbread returned after a few years of absence, and it was an appreciated comeback. Therefore, we let Gingerbread return again this year, Johannes Eriksson, Product Manager at Norrmejerier says in a press release.

At Falköping Dairy, they stick to the classic gingerbread taste and at their Facebook page, the dairy writes about the gingerbread tradition in Sweden:

‘Gingerbread recipes were found in Swedish cookbooks back in the 18th century. During the 19th century, gingerbread was associated with Christmas. Gingerbread was appreciated in the Nordic countries, not least by royalty. Union King Hans is said to have been prescribed gingerbread for his bad mood by his doctor. According to myth it is said that Gingerbread makes you kind’.

This year’s Milk Day at Alnarp will be held as a hybrid – with the opportunity to participate at ‘Alnarpgården’ or follow the program on zoom.

The headline for the Milk Day 2021 is ‘A future look at milk – trends for hay, technology and housing’.

The reason for the event is the comprehensive research that takes place at Alnarpgården, which is SLU’s campus area in Skåne, where the basic aspects of milk production are in focus – from the cows’ food and behaviour to their milk yield.

The event takes place on the 9^th of November from 10 to 15.

See the program and register HERE

Wednesday 27 October, Livsmedelverket’s inspection found Listeria bacteria during a visit to Lillängen’s farmhouse dairy. The owners have now decided to close down the dairy for good.

On Wednesday, all cheeses from Lillängen’s farmhouse dairy in Sunne were recalled after Livsmedelverket (the National Food Administration) found listeria in samples. At the same time the dairy was banned from producing and selling cheese. Therefore the owners decided to close down the business.

– There is not much to do. We’re not that young either. Sooner or later we would have come to this point, but it was not how we had imagined it to happen, Kajsa Fryklund Andersson who runs Lillängen’s farm dairy with Stig Andersson says to Nya Wermlands Tidningen – according to Food-Supply.se.

During this autumn, two people have died and one has been seriously ill due to listeria in Central Sweden, and the goat cheese from Lillängen’s farmhouse dairy is under suspicious to be the source.

Read more HERE