Arla
The farmer-owned dairy co-operative based in Viby near Aarhus that makes Lurpak butter and Castello cheese.
- Founded
- 2000
- Company
- Arla Foods amba
- Based in
- Viby, Aarhus
Pictures © Arla Foods amba, from arla.com.
Why it is renowned
Arla is among the largest dairy companies in the world and the largest in Scandinavia and the United Kingdom.1 Its main brands, Arla, Lurpak, Puck and Castello, are sold worldwide; Puck is its name in the Middle East and North Africa.1 In June 2026 it merged with the German co-operative DMK Group under the Arla name, uniting about 11,200 farmers in seven countries.2
The story
Danish farmers began forming co-operative dairies in the 1880s; the first Danish one opened in Hjedding, near Ølgod, in 1882.1 Mejeriselskabet Danmark was founded in 1970, renamed MD Foods in 1988, and merged with Kløver Mælk in 1999.1 In April 2000 MD Foods merged with the Swedish co-operative Arla to form Arla Foods, with its head office in Denmark.1 The company is owned by the dairy farmers who supply most of its milk.3
What to know it by
- LurpakButter brand
- CastelloCheese brand, blue and yellow cheeses
- PuckArla's brand in the Middle East and North Africa
- ArlaThe co-operative's own brand across all categories
Sources
- Arla Foods, Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org, read 28 September 2026.
- Arla Foods and DMK Group officially unite to create Europe's leading dairy cooperative, Arla. arla.com, read 28 September 2026.
- Arla Foods Overview, Arla. arla.com, read 28 September 2026.
Last checked 28 September 2026, against the maker's own pages.