MOSCOW, August 13 (RIA Novosti) -Swedish-Danish dairy cooperative Arla Foods had to cut 79 jobs due to Russia’s food imports ban implemented in response to the West’s sanctions on Russia, The Local's Danish edition reported Wednesday.
“Production for the Russian market has been experiencing strong growth over the past years so it can definitely be felt when a market like Russia is suddenly shut completely down,” Arla’s senior vice president, Lars Dalsgaard, was quoted as saying by the Local, adding, that 30 out of 79 positions affected were occupied by temporary employees.
Prior to the announcement of the food imports ban, Arla Foods was expecting to earn $215 million from the Russian market in 2014.
On August 8, the company announced on Twitter that it stopped making products aimed at the Russian market.
The same day, the company’s press officer Astrid Gade Nielsen said that Arla facilities in Denmark would have to fire 50 to 75 employees.
Based in Aarhus, Denmark, Arla Foods is Europe's third-largest dairy producer with a yearly trade turnover of more than 6.5 billion euros ($8.7 billion).
