Estonian company to buy Rīgas Piena Kombināts – what happens to “Kārums”?
Estonian dairy group Agrone's parent company Falber Investments has agreed to acquire AS Rīgas Piena Kombināts, sparking public concern over the future of the beloved “Kārums” curd snack. Company representatives say no immediate changes are planned.
News that Falber Investments, the parent company of Estonian dairy producer Agrone, signed an agreement on August 19 to acquire the AS Rīgas Piena Kombināts (RPK) group has sparked lively discussion on social media. The group also includes Valmieras Piens. The deal is not yet finalized, as it requires approval from Latvian and Estonian competition authorities, and the purchase price has not been disclosed.
The news raised questions about a Latvian company passing into foreign ownership, but the main concern voiced online was whether the recipe of the iconic glazed curd snack “Kārums” might change. Several commenters compared the situation to the earlier sale of confectionery maker Laima. Others tried to reassure worried fans, pointing out that a change of owner does not automatically mean a changed recipe, and noting that RPK has not been a purely local, privately owned company for some time already.
No changes for now
Representatives of both RPK and Agrone stressed that the agreement brings no immediate changes to production — until the deal closes, the two companies will keep operating independently, maintaining existing relationships with employees, clients and milk suppliers. Agrone's head, Raul Jääts, named “Kārums” as the best-known of RPK's brands, while RPK's management said it hopes to keep developing the curd snack category both in the Baltic states and in export markets.
The history of “Kārums” dates back to the late 1940s, when the first glazed curd snacks were made in Riga on Valmieras iela. The product got its current name and crow-logo in 1994. RPK also develops other well-known Latvian brands, including Dzintars, Lakto, Rasa, Limbažu Piens, Valmiera, Rasēns and Mājas. In 2025 the company posted turnover of €155.823 million, up 3.3% year-on-year, though it ended the year with a loss of €610,104. Agrone, the prospective buyer, farms about 14,500 hectares of land and produces roughly 70,000 tonnes of raw milk annually.
