International Directory of Company Histories | Aarhus United A/S - Introduction

Introduction

PO Box 50
Aarhus C
DK-8100
Denmark
Telephone: +45 87 30 60 00
Fax: 45 87 30 60 12
Web site: http://www.aarhusunited.com

Public Company
Incorporated: 1871 as Aarhus Palmekaernefabrik
Employees: 1,711
Sales: DKK 4.48 billion ($748.4 million) (2003)
Stock Exchanges: Copenhagen
NAIC: 311225 Fats and Oils Refining and Blending

Aarhus United A/S is a leading producer of vegetable oils for the food, confectionery, cosmetics, and healthcare industries. The Aarhus, Denmark-based company produces specialty fats and oils, as well as oleochemicals, derived primarily from palm oils supplied by partner company United Plantations Berhad in Malaysia. Aarhus has played a leading role in developing new oil varieties, such as cocoa butter equivalents (CBEs) and cocoa butter replacements (CBRs), used to reduce the cocoa butter content in chocolate preparations; and oils and margarine with reduced or no trans-fatty acid content. The company also produces bulk oils, a byproduct of its food- and pharmaceutical-grade production. A globally operating company with subsidiaries in 14 countries, Aarhus carries out its own refining operations at its factories in Denmark, Mexico, the United States, the United Kingdom, and in Uruguay. These plants produce more than 800,000 tons of oil per year. Aarhus and its subsidiaries adopted the name Aarhus United in part to unify its operations, and in part to highlight its longstanding relationship with United Plantations Berhad. Aarhus holds a 23 percent stake of United Plantations, which in turn owns 43 percent of Aarhus. In 2003, Aarhus posted revenues of nearly DKK 4.5 billion ($750 million).