FrieslandCampina appoints Müller as new MD for Iberia, Italy and France

FRANCE – Martina Müller has been appointed as the new managing director of FrieslandCampina for Iberia, Italy, and France. 

She brings nearly a decade of experience within the company, having initially joined in 2015 as part of the B2C team. 

Since then, she has transitioned to the B2B segment and most recently served as the commercial director for quick service restaurants (QSR) and coffee and tea at FrieslandCampina Professional. 

In this capacity, she managed key accounts like McDonald’s and Burger King, establishing strategic partnerships that have significantly benefited the cooperative.

Müller is regarded as a natural leader and a people-oriented professional who strives to make a meaningful impact within the organization. 

With a background in Business Administration from the IE Business School and the London Business School, she boasts over 19 years of experience in marketing and business management, having also worked for major companies like Mondelez and Pepsico in Brazil, and Reckitt-Benckiser in the UK. 

In her new role, Müller will focus on enhancing operational efficiency and solidifying the company’s presence across various distribution channels. 

Additionally, she is committed to adapting commercial strategies in line with shifting market demands and sustainability trends, ensuring FrieslandCampina remains competitive in an evolving dairy landscape.

In this pivotal role, Müller faces the challenge of expanding the cooperative’s business strategy across these three strategic territories, known for their diverse dairy markets. 

FrieslandCampina reports strong start to 2024

Earlier this year, FrieslandCampina announced a strong start to 2024, highlighting a remarkable increase in operating profit from €47 million to €301 million. 

This growth was largely attributed to strategic improvements in product volume mix, reduced inventory costs, and significant cost savings achieved through the implementation of the Expedition 2030 strategy. 

Although the company’s revenue dipped by 6.7% to €6.4 billion—primarily due to lower milk prices and currency translation effects—the net result surged to €183 million, a substantial increase from just €8 million in the first half of 2023.

Jan Derck van Karnebeek, CEO of Royal FrieslandCampina N.V., emphasized the importance of this new strategy, which focuses on optimizing product-market combinations within its seven business groups. 

“This structured approach aims to enhance the valorization of milk from member dairy farmers, supported by an efficient supply chain and reduced operational overhead.”

 In the first half of 2024, FrieslandCampina processed approximately 4.7 billion kilograms of member milk, marking a 3.2% decline from the previous year, primarily due to the Exit Scheme required by the European Commission.

As the company continues to navigate challenges in the global dairy market, it has laid a solid foundation for supplementary cash payments to member dairy farmers, although an interim payment has been withheld due to prevailing market volatility and economic uncertainties.

Subscribe to our food and agriculture industry email newsletters that provide busy executives like you with the latest news insights and trends from Africa and the World. SUBSCRIBE HERE