Export manager Viggo Madsen is a familiar face on many of Arla Foods Ingredients’ major milk powder markets, a number of which he has helped to establish from scratch. On 30 April, he will say goodbye to them all and retire after 30 years in the business.
Milk powder was just milk powder back in the days when Viggo Madsen joined a company that later became part of Arla Foods. Today, milk powder is an altogether more specialised field where, in parts of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean, brands such as MILEX^® and DANO^® are household names.
Viggo has focused many of his efforts on Bangladesh, Lebanon, Yemen, Egypt and Nigeria.
Many of the customers we started up with 30 years ago we still have today, says Viggo. Milk powder is an old product but still very important, and, as people gain more purchasing power and the population grows, there are challenges for many years ahead.
After a career with up to 100 days a year on the road, Viggo expects it will take a while to get used to life in retirement. But one thing is certain there will be much more time for the family.