HOK-Elanto, Finland's biggest local cooperative retailer, along with Hämeenmaa and Suurseutu told the Finnish News Agency (STT) on Friday they had switched to stocking milk from Denmark-based dairy Arla, replacing Finland's Valio as the main supplier.

All three local cooperatives are part of Suomen Osuuskauppa (SOK).

SOK said Arla had been the local cooperatives' main supplier in the past and added that large supermarkets would continue to stock Valio milk.

Finnish farmers' lobby MTK blasted the switch, with Eero Isomaa, an MTK dairy official, quoted as saying by national daily Helsingin Sanomat that the move threatened the Finnish dairy industry.

STT