Ammerland Cooperative reports sharp rise in revenue

Dairy cooperative Ammerland in the German Ost-Friesland booked almost 10% more revenue last year, but due to the difficult market conditions it did have a lower final result for the year. Less remained for payout to the members. Total revenue rose by almost €200 million to €1.9 billion, the company said at member meetings. An annual report has not yet been published. Because average dairy prices were slightly higher than in 2024, more milk money could be paid than in that year. On average €52.23 per 100 kilos was paid, but only €11.2 million remained for payout to the members. A year earlier there was still €19.9 million to distribute. The lower annual surplus also had to be distributed among more members. Ammerland saw its membership increase from 1,916 to 1,946 members. These members together supplied 4.6% more milk than in 2024: in total 2.5 billion kilos. 40% of that milk was pasture milk. Ammerland also has a small stream of organic milk. That did grow strongly last year, but nevertheless makes up only 3% of the total milk pool. A large part of the delivered milk was processed into cheese. Of that, the cooperative based in Dringenburg/Wiefelstede produced more than 218,000 tons. That is 3.8% more than in 2024. The amount of drinking milk rose the fastest, by 12.4% to almost 243,000 tons. So far this year Ammerland has had to pay the members a significantly lower milk price, but from May onward more than €40 per 100 kilos will still be paid out again. To further improve performance in the market, Ammerland is investing, among other things, in an extra cheese line, more storage capacity and a new installation to extract high-quality proteins from whey. Although dairy companies everywhere seem to be merging or have plans to do so, Ammerland is choosing a different course, according to managing director Ralf Hinrichs. Ammerland wants to remain independent and is not interested in takeovers, except if a company nearby were eligible for that.