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Refuses to hand over the keys
Of: Sara milstead
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A dispute over the cheese has arisen regarding the sale of the dairy in Boxholm.
The municipality, which bought the property, would have taken over the factory today, but Arla refuses to hand over the keys.
– We do not agree on what should be included in the purchase, says Erik Bratthall, Arla press service.
The sale of Arla’s dairy in Boxholm has been a long and infected series. A few weeks ago, the City Council decided to buy the property. This is after Arla shut down cheese production and moved it to Östersund.
The decision to move Boxholm cheese production to the north is something that has shattered sentiments among the locals. Therefore, the municipality decided to take over the famous premises, with the intention of establishing a corporate hotel. The idea was that food production would become part of the new business and thus give new life to the dairy.
But now the deal has gone wrong.
– We have made an offer for the dairy, signed a purchase contract and had access today, October 1st. But now Arla wants to pick up that equipment and we don’t want to agree with that, says Britt-Marie Johansson (S), president of the city council.
Photo: Jeppe Gustafsson
The municipality bought the dairy in Boxholm after Arla shut down cheese production there.
Photo: CAROLINA BYRMO
When the dairy was closed, there were huge protests in the city.
The municipality has already transferred the entire purchase price to the broker.
– Today we would take care of it, and then you have to pay for everything, says Britt-Marie Johansson.
But the municipality has not received a key.
– No, we haven’t received any from the broker. We have now applied to the district court for a lien, which means that nothing can be moved in the building. This is a sensitive topic for Boxholm.
It’s about silos
At the center of the conflict are two silos, which the municipality believes are included in the purchase. Arla, for her part, has denied it.
Photo: Jeppe Gustafsson
The dispute affects multiple silos on the property.
According to the municipality, Arla wanted to move the day of access to December 1, to have time to clarify the details of the equipment. But Britt-Marie Johansson says she has no mandate to sign such agreements.
– This purchase is based on a decision of the council, we cannot just change that, he says.
Unsurprisingly, Arla has a different image of the conflict.
– This is the situation: Arla and the municipality had an agreement in which it was quite clear which equipment would be included in the purchase.
– We even walked and took photos. Then there were a couple of silos that weren’t on the list. The municipality wants them to be included in the purchase, but we need it for another dairy, says Erik Bratthall.
Photo: Jeppe Gustafsson
Boxholm cheese production has moved from Boxholm to ÖStersund.
The dispute has involved friends of the Boxholmsgruppen group. The network will now search around the area at night to make sure nothing is missing from the property.
– I don’t understand how Arla has the stomach to do this. First, they closed a dairy that they bought and promised to operate forever. And when they quit, they are still selling Östersund-produced bad cheese, says Johan Birath, a spokesman for the group.
However, Arla states that he intends to resume talks with the municipality as soon as possible to resolve the situation.
Photo: Jeppe Gustafsson
The municipality wants access to the property’s silos.
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