Müller Buys Pair Of Hochwald Brands, Factory

Credit: Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller.

Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller has struck a woody to get a accumulation tract and associated brands from German dairy co-operative Hochwald Foods.

Financial specifications of nan transaction were not disclosed.

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In a statement yesterday (19 November), privately owned Müller said nan transaction covers Hochwald’s Lüneburg facility, including nan 150 employees.

The Germany-headquartered dairy elephantine will besides get each trademark authorities and products of nan Elinas and Lünebest brands. Production will proceed astatine nan Lüneburg plant.

Müller said nan deal, which is taxable to support by title authorities, will “complement” its dairy merchandise portfolio successful nan German market, wherever it chiefly operates successful backstage label.

Hochwald acknowledged nan transaction pinch Müller successful its ain statement. The works and plus waste supports its strategy of focusing connected its “core” offerings, nan institution said.

The dairy group besides noted that it sees “limited” improvement prospects for nan 2 brands wrong its ain yogurt segment, a class that is “highly competitive”.

Detlef Latka, CEO of Hochwald Foods, said: “The planned waste will let america to usage our resources much efficaciously and further grow our strengths successful our halfway business areas specified arsenic drinking milk, condensed milk, quark, cheese, and ingredients for Germany and export, peculiarly to 3rd countries.”

Hochwald’s accumulation is carried retired astatine sites successful Germany and nan Netherlands. The co-operative employs astir 1,970 people. Its different brands see its namesake line, on pinch Bärenmarke and Tuffi, while nan business besides supplies to private-label customers.

In 2024, nan institution generated income revenues of €2.01bn ($2.3bn), up 2% from nan anterior year. EBITDA roseate by €22.9m to €161.2m, Hochwald reported successful June.

Domestic income accounted for 59% of turnover, while exports made up nan rest.

Consumer merchandise exports benefited from higher volumes to Arab markets, nan institution added.

In 2023, Hochwald acquired the Tuffi marque from Müller aft clearance by nan German regulator Bundeskartellamt. The acquisition followed a ruling that required Müller to divest 2 brands arsenic a information for acquiring parts of FrieslandCampina’s German business.

As portion of that transaction, Hochwald besides secured nan licence to nutrient and waste atom pudding nether nan Landliebe brand.

Meanwhile, Müller operates dairy subsidiaries crossed continental Europe and nan UK.

In April, nan group entered nan UK functional nutrient marketplace pinch nan acquisition of Biotiful Gut Health, a kefir drinks and yogurts producer.