Dairy octopus Meggle takes over Rücker: What does that mean for us?

Dairy octopus Meggle takes over Rücker: What does that mean for us?

The Rücker dairy, which operates at two locations in Aurich and Wismar, has a new owner: Meggle Holding SE from Wasserburg am Inn will take over the company. This news brought movement to the German dairy industry, because not only the company structures but also the product range will change enormously. According to [Nordkurier](https://www.nordkurier.de/regional/Schwerin/neuer-molkerei-gigant-meggle- swallowt-ruecker-in-wismar-und-aurich-3897305), Rücker is one of the quality leaders in the shepherd's cheese sector and employed around 610 people at the time of the takeover. The company's turnover in 2024 was around 500 million euros, which underlines the importance of this merger.

Rücker processes around 800 million kilograms of milk every year and offers products such as 90,000 tons of cheese and 20,000 tons of butter and milk powder, which are sold mainly within Germany. With this takeover, Megle Holding plans to strengthen its market position and set further accents, particularly in the cheese business. CEO Matthias Oettel highlights Rücker's innovative strength in milk processing and sees enormous potential for synergetic collaboration. “The shared values ​​and strategies fit together perfectly,” continued Oettel.

Challenges in the milk market

But not everything is going smoothly in the milk business. Current developments show that many dairies and milk producers in Germany are suffering from the pressure of low milk prices. Andreas Mundt, President of the Federal Cartel Office, explains the market situation in an interview: “The large retail chains have a noticeable influence on prices, and at the same time dairies are often unable to enforce higher prices.” This is where the new merger comes into play, which could potentially impact the bargaining power of dairies and farmers.

Rücker supplies over 500 farms in the German coastal regions, but the lack of clarity about future business relationships means that many farmers are concerned about the developments. Stefan Riemer, managing director of the agricultural product company Lübesse, expresses concerns about the uncertainties in the supply chain and the possible changed contracts that could come into force after the takeover.

The future of collaboration

Meggle plans to implement the takeover subject to the approval of the antitrust authorities, which means that the legal framework must be carefully examined. As part of this takeover, suppliers' existing contracts and future pricing structures will be closely examined to ensure that there are no distortions of competition. According to Lebensmittelpraxis, the exact course of this merger will only become apparent after approval by the antitrust authorities.

Will Meggle's takeover of Rücker actually bring about a renaissance for the cheese business in Germany? The coming months will be crucial in determining how dairy business practices evolve and whether previous uncertainty can give way to a new upswing. The debate remains exciting and is being followed closely by industry players.