Doggy changes hands

"The sale of Lantmännen Doggy is a strategic step by Lantmännen towards a stronger focus on its core activities in the grain value-added chain," says Per Olof Nyman, CEO of Lantmännen and head of the group, in justification of the move. NDX's acquisition also means that the name of the pet food company will change, and it is now trading as Doggy AB.
With a workforce numbering around 170 and annual sales of SEK 564 mio (approx. € 60 mio), Doggy is regarded as the biggest manufacturer of dog and cat food in Sweden. Its main offices and production plant are located in Vårgårda. 

The company's managing director is still Frederik Krook, who assumed the role in the spring. A new board of directors has also been appointed with Lars Appelqvist as the chairman. Appelqvist is the managing director of the Löfbergs coffee roastery and also a board member of the Swedish Food Federation, as well as serving on the board of the Färjestad ice hockey team. He will be joined on the new board by NDX managing director Petras Jašinkas.

NDX owns a number of other companies operating in central and eastern Europe, including the pet food manufacturer Mispol with production facilities in Poland (Suwałki and Białystok, both producing wet food) and the Czech Republic (KSK Bono, dry food). The investment company belongs to the same corporate group as the leading Baltic supermarket chain Maxima.

People at Doggy are eyeing an opportunity to expand further in Europe with the support of the new owners. "Our new owners have invested in businesses in the long term in the past and have successfully developed the companies in their portfolio," comments Frederik Krook. And NDX is quick to offer praise: "By acquiring Doggy we are adding an entrepreneurially oriented company with skilled staff and a first-class production facility to our portfolio," declares Petras Jašinkas.