Karlshamns Consolidates its Position on the Norwegian Market


STOCKHOLM, Sweden, April 26, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Karlshamns anticipates continued growth for vegetable oils and fats on the Norwegian market. To turn these potentials to better advantage, a sales office is now opened in Oslo. Karlshamns' focus on the Norwegian market is partly prompted by the current restructuring of the European vegetable oil industry, in the aftermath of which Denofa closed down its refinery in Fredriksstad in Norway.

The new sales office will serve the aggregate Norwegian market, with deliveries direct from the plant in Karlshamn, Sweden.

-- We offer a complete range of oils and fats, a range that thus also comprises our high value-added speciality fats. Our unique range of trans-free products, for example, is in great demand within the Norwegian food industry. With focus on technical solutions, efficient logistics and first-rate commercial service, we are now committing ourselves to consolidating our market position in Norway even further, tells Hakan Christensson, President of Business Sector Food Ingredients.

For further information, please contact either Hakan Christensson, President Business Sector Food Ingredients, tel +46 (0)454- 82 424, mobile +46 (0)708-182 424, or Karlshamns' C.I.O. Bo Svensson, tel +46 (0)454-82 193, mobile +46 (0)708-182 193.

The business sector Food Ingredients operates in Karlshamns' business area Oils & Fats, and is responsible for the development, production and marketing of the Group's global range of vegetable oils and fats for the food industry, all over the world.

The Norwegian market for vegetable oils and fats is estimated at approximately SEK 500 million.

In 2004, Karlshamns' total sales amounted to SEK 3,658 million. The Group had a total of 790 employees, of whom 600 at the plant in Karlshamn, Sweden. Karlshamns is Scandinavia's largest supplier of vegetable oils and fats; the food industry its major customer segment. Other important business areas are technical products, feed raw materials and speciality raw materials for the chemical and technical industries. Karlshamns' operations have an outspokenly international character, and the Group has subsidiaries in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Poland and Malaysia.

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