In order to increase its competitiveness on the Swedish market, Orkla is merging
Abba Seafood and Procordia which combined will be one of Sweden's largest food
companies.
The purpose of creating a single food company in Sweden is to establish a solid
platform for future growth and the further development of the two companies'
strong brands.
Abba Seafood's best known brands are Abba, Kalles, Grebbestads and Ejderns.
Procordia markets strong brands such as Felix, Ekströms, Önos, Risifrutti,
Grandiosa, Fun Light, Liva, Den Gamle Fabrik, BOB, Paulúns and Jokk.
"By combining the best of Abba Seafood and Procordia, we will create a new
company that will strengthen the competitiveness of our well-known Swedish food
brands, and give them greater clout in the Swedish market," says Atle Vidar
Johansen, CEO Orkla Foods Nordic.
The new company will have a turnover of around SEK 4.5 billion and over 1300
employees. The company will be operational as from 2 April 2013, and will be
headed by Patrik Andersson, current CEO of Procordia. The new headquarters will
be in Eslöv, where Procordia's headquarters are presently located.
Current administrative positions at Abba Seafood's head office in Gothenburg
will be moved to Eslöv. Around half of the 60 Abba Seafood employees in
Gothenburg will be offered jobs at the new headquarters in Eslöv.
Abba Seafood' s popular branded goods, which have long traditions in Sweden,
will continue to be manufactured at Abba Seafood's factory in Kungshamn. The
company's central raw material facility in Kungshamn and the central warehouse
in Uddevalle will continue to operate as before. The same applies to production
at Procordia's plants in Eslöv, Tollarp, Fågelmara, Kumla, Örebro and Vansbro.
The grocery sales teams in the two companies will be maintained as at present,
while the sales teams in Abba Foodservice and Procordia FoodSolutions will be
amalgamated.
The employees at Abba Seafood and Procordia were informed today about the
changes. Negotiations have been entered into with employee representatives.
The plan is also to integrate Frödinge into the new company, provided that
Orkla's acquisition of Rieber & Søn is approved by the European competition
authorities.
Abba Seafood and Procordia have been owned by Orkla since 1995. In 2011, Abba
Seafood had a turnover of SEK 1.3 billion and a work force equivalent to about
370 man-years at the end of the year. The company's headquarters are currently
located in Gothenburg, its production and central raw material facilities are in
Kungshamn, and its central warehouse is in Uddevalla. In 2011, Procordia had a
turnover of SEK 3.3 billion and a workforce comprising 1000 man-years at year
end. The company has its headquarters and a factory in Eslöv, in addition to
production facilities in Tollarp, Fågelmara, Kumla, Örebro and Vansbro.
Orkla ASA
Oslo, 9 January 2013
Ref.:
Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications and Corporate Affairs
HÃ¥kon Mageli
Mobile +47Â 928 45Â 828
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Source: Orkla ASA via Thomson Reuters ONE
[HUG#1669146]
