Introduction

While in the Netherlands the agricultural co-op community gathered for the annual “Coöperatiedag”, some 150 Board members and executives of their sister cooperatives in Sweden met for their first Cooperative Seminar since many years. Central on stage were the Swedish ‘big three’: Arla Foods (Swedish branch), multi-purpose agri-trading cooperative Lantmännen and forestry cooperative Södra. Respectively ranking #4, #17 and #30 in our most recent European Agribusiness Cooperative ranking. We were invited to give a presentation on the strategies, structures and internationalization in the leading European cooperatives. We decided to present an overview of the 16 bigger cooperatives in the European ranking and subsequently share some views on why it is that some cooperatives grow from strength to strength, whereas others drift away from their cooperative roots as they internationalize. Attached you may glance through the slides. Each cooperative has its own story and is a learning case that deserves in-depth study by itself. Well, I had only one hour this time (and used that in full). If you have any questions, please feel free to contact.