AKV Langholt AmbA, a Danish farmer-owned cooperative, has acquired Cargill’s 50% stake in their joint venture, Cargill-AKV I/S, with effect from October 7, 2022.

The goal of the joint venture when it was established in 1987 was to produce and market cationic potato starches for the global paper industry. A functional clean-label starch factory was added to the business’s operations in 2018.

With the buyout, AKV has expanded its product line to include 90,000 tons of native and modified potato starches for the global food and paper industries, as well as proteins and starches from the potato for the feed and pet food industries.

“With the acquisition, we are able to further strengthen our stake in the global potato starch industry. We are looking forward to taking control of our future to the benefit of AKV’s customers, employees, and farmers. A long-term joint venture with Cargill comes to an end and we wish to thank Cargill for their contribution and cooperation over the years,” Chairman of the Board at AKV Langholt AmbA, Jørgen Christian Skeel, said.

In conjunction with the acquisition, AKV assumes responsibility for Cargill’s direct customer contact. AKV will get in touch with the relevant customers throughout the following few weeks to plan and organize the transition.

“With the constantly changing business environment of today, it is becoming essential to shorten our supply chain and immediately adapt to changes in a joint effort with our customers. Also, the direct customer interaction allows us to create specialized product solutions in joint development projects with them,” Chief Commercial Officer, Bjarne Larsen, declared.

AKV Langholt AmbA is a Danish cooperative producing and selling potato starch since 1933. The company exports to 70 countries around the world and is owned by approximately 200 Danish potato farmers.