Hochland reports export success

Hochland from southern Germany, one of Europe’s top ten cheese exporters in terms of turnover, increased sales again during 2012 to a record €1.146 billion (+3.3%) with 62% of this earned abroad compared with 55% from exports in the previous year.

The private dairy which sources its milk from farms in the Alpine foothills of the Allgäu region also boosted business last year by taking over the production and marketing in Germany of the Gervais cheese brand formerly belonging to Danone. In the coming years Hochland will be aiming for even more growth, according to board chairman Peter Stahl. He told press in Germany that his sales department was now aiming for a steady 5% increase in turnover.

Tonnage of internationally successful cheeses produced over the last year by Hochland’s 12 plants scattered over central and eastern Europe topped 267,000 tonnes, according to the company. It now claims absolute market leadership for its cheese spreads and cream cheeses in Russia, Poland and Romania. Joining the new Gervais brand among its leading varieties are the slicing cheese Grünlander, Greek-type white cheese Patros and the creamy French-style Valbrei.