Disappointment about the failed milk merger with Gmunden
Business
SalzburgMilch reacted with disappointment to the failed merger with the Gmundner Molkerei (OÖ). The large Austrian milk merger to form the second largest dairy company in Austria has thus failed.
The Gmundner Molkerei decided to merge with the Bavarian Jäger Dairy, thus guaranteeing that the dairy would be preserved. SalzburgMilch Managing Director Andreas Gasteiger was surprised by the decision and speaks of a loss of trust. Then the Gmundner dairy pushed for a merger.
“Relationship of trust shattered”
“The loss of trust is mainly among the owners – they have been holding intensive discussions about the merger in recent weeks. Of course, this now has an impact on the entire industry because there will now be a foreign co-owner in Gmunden,” says Salzburg-Milch Managing Director Gasteiger. According to SalzburgMilch, the relationship of trust with the Gmundner dairy will continue to be shaken in the future.
SalzburgMilch suspects resistance from farmers
He also suspects that the resistance of a group of Upper Austrian farmers led to the failure of the merger. These milk suppliers are still sticking to tethering, which is not compatible with the SalzburgMilch premium philosophy, adds Gasteiger. He does not expect a disadvantage for the Salzburg dairy.
No interest in new merger partner
Last year, the dairy increased its sales by seven percent, and this year is also on schedule. Salzburg-Milch is not now looking for a new merger partner. With an annual turnover of almost 230 million euros, the dairy remains the third largest milk producer in Austria behind Berglandmilch (Upper Austria) and NÖM (Lower Austria).