Subject category:
Strategy and General Management
Published by:
International Institute for Management Development (IMD)
Version: 28.03.2017
Revision date: 28-Apr-2017
Abstract
This is part of a case series. In December 2007, two diary cooperatives - Campina and Royal Friesland Foods - based in The Netherlands decided to merge. The cooperatives both owned operating companies that were responsible for buying the milk of their members and transforming it into value-added dairy-based products. Despite their common Dutch origins, their operating companies - Campina BV and Royal Friesland Foods BV - had very different cultures. Cees 't Hart was appointed the CEO of the newly merged company and given ambitious cost cutting and growth targets. He faced a difficult economic climate and a changing landscape for the European-based dairy industry. 't Hart realized that to reach his targets, the merged company had to build a common culture. Yet he knew that the cultures of the founding companies were much different. How could he create a culture based on the best the two companies brought to the table?
Industry:
Size:
2013 - Revenue: EUR11.4B, Operating Profit: EUR313M, Employees: 21,186
Other setting(s):
2007-2013
About
Abstract
This is part of a case series. In December 2007, two diary cooperatives - Campina and Royal Friesland Foods - based in The Netherlands decided to merge. The cooperatives both owned operating companies that were responsible for buying the milk of their members and transforming it into value-added dairy-based products. Despite their common Dutch origins, their operating companies - Campina BV and Royal Friesland Foods BV - had very different cultures. Cees 't Hart was appointed the CEO of the newly merged company and given ambitious cost cutting and growth targets. He faced a difficult economic climate and a changing landscape for the European-based dairy industry. 't Hart realized that to reach his targets, the merged company had to build a common culture. Yet he knew that the cultures of the founding companies were much different. How could he create a culture based on the best the two companies brought to the table?
Settings
Industry:
Size:
2013 - Revenue: EUR11.4B, Operating Profit: EUR313M, Employees: 21,186
Other setting(s):
2007-2013