Encouraging year for Nordmilch

GERMANY – Processing co-operative Nordmilch has posted healthy results for 2001, with increased exports back strong domestic sales.

Exports were helped by Nordmilch expanding into new markets in China and the Middle East for the first time in 2001.

In Germany, Nordmilch saw turnover up 6.1% on 2000 at &#8364,2.2 billion. 21% of this came from cheese, which also saw sales up 9.3% on the previous year. To keep up with demand, the co-op spent &#8364,58 million improving cheese production.

Nordmilch managing director Manfred Tag said that the co-op’s strategy of strongly backing distinctive regional brands such as Hansano while establishing and promoting top brands such as its Oldenburger cheeses and butter was responsible for the results.

Tag added that increased marketing of ready-wrapped cheese portions for the supermarket trade and convincing German supermarkets to pay more for their dairy products had also helped Nordmilch. However, high dairy prices are unlikely to last as a German supermarket price war intensifies.

Increasingly, Nordmilch is looking to export its produce and in the co-op exported &#8364,530 million of product to 80 countries in 2001. 75% of the firm’s exports were milk powder.