Friesland Foods

Royal Friesland Foods

Company type	Cooperative
Industry	Dairy products, fruit beverages
Founded	1879
Defunct	2008
Fate	Merged with Campina to form FrieslandCampina
Headquarters	Meppel , Netherlands
Area served	Western and Central Europe, West Africa, Southeast Asia
Products	Dairy products and fruit beverages (brands include Appelsientje, Bonnet, Chocomel/Cécémel, Completa, CoolBest, Debic, DubbelFrisss, Dutch Lady, Extran, Frico, Friso, Foremost, Friesche Vlag, Frisian Flag, Fristi, Milli, NoyNoy, Peak, Pöttyös Túró Rudi, Rainbow, Taksi)
Number of employees	15,312

Royal Friesland Foods (Koninklijke Friesland Foods N.V.) was a Netherlands-based enterprise focused on the production of branded dairy products and fruit beverages, holding significant market presence across Western and Central Europe, West Africa, and Southeast Asia.

On 30 December 2008, Friesland Foods combined operations with Campina, resulting in the creation of FrieslandCampina. This merger, initially declared in December 2007, received approval from the European Union contingent upon both firms divesting specific cheese and dairy drink segments.

Overview

The company employed a workforce totaling 15,312 individuals, with approximately 10,000 staff members stationed outside the Netherlands. Its portfolio comprised prominent brands such as Appelsientje, Bonnet, Chocomel/Cécémel, Completa, CoolBest, Debic, DubbelFrisss, Dutch Lady, Extran, Frico, Friso, Foremost, Friesche Vlag, Frisian Flag, Fristi, Milli, NoyNoy, Peak, Pöttyös Túró Rudi, Rainbow, and Taksi.

Established as a cooperative in 1879, the organization expanded largely through mergers and acquisitions. A pivotal development occurred in late 1997 when four Dutch dairy cooperatives merged to form its contemporary structure. Further growth happened in December 2001 when KFF NV acquired Numico's Drinks & Dairy division, thereby incorporating brands including Chocomel/Cécémel, Fristi, and Extran.

In June 2004, marking its 125th anniversary, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands conferred Royal status ("Koninklijk") on the firm. This recognition led to the rebranding from Friesland Coberco Dairy Foods to its royal title.

Longevity Brand - Sữa Ông Thọ

In markets such as Vietnam, the United States, and Canada, the company is well-known for its canned condensed milk product Sữa Ông Thọ (Longevity Brand condensed milk). This product is a fundamental ingredient in Vietnamese iced coffee with milk (Cà phê sữa đá) and various traditional desserts. Prior to 1975, Friesland Foods produced it on a large scale in the Saigon-Biên Hòa region where it was widely consumed throughout the Republic of Vietnam. The condensed milk was commonly added to coffee or diluted with hot water as a milk substitute for children and enjoyed alongside French bread (Bánh mì). Following the 1975 Fall of Saigon, production facilities were nationalized under the state-owned enterprise Vinamilk, which continued manufacturing Sữa Ông Thọ domestically and throughout Indochina. Friesland Foods sustained production of Longevity Brand Sữa Ông Thọ in North America targeting the Overseas Vietnamese community while also appealing to Western consumers amid rising interest in Vietnamese coffee culture and cuisine. In these regions, the brand is found extensively in Asian grocery stores and is increasingly present in mainstream outlets.

2008 baby milk scandal

In September 2008, Singapore’s Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) detected melamine contamination in "Dutch Lady" strawberry-flavored milk produced in China. The affected products were promptly recalled and destroyed. Subsequently, Friesland Foods withdrew all plastic-bottled milk items from markets in Hong Kong and Macau.

External links

• Official company website (English)
• Royal Friesland Foods press release dated September 9, 2004
• Dairy Industries International July 2004 v69 i7 page 7 article covering name change Wilmington International