Two of Germany’s leading dairy companies merged in April 2011 to become the number 1 player in the German dairy industry. Humana Milchindustrie GmbH and NORDMILCH GmbH became DMK Deutsches Milchkontor GmbH. The company looks back on many years of successful collaboration:
Joint venture wheyco GmbH is formed to process specialty whey products. NORDMILCH AG and Humana Milchunion eG each have a 50% share.Humana Milchindustrie GmbH and NORDMILCH AG join forces in sales by setting up Nord-Contor Milch GmbH:
The operating units of NORDMILCH AG and Humana Milchindustrie GmbH merge: DMK Deutsches Milchkontor GmbH is formed.The farmers' representatives of Humana Milchunion eG and NORDMILCH eG agree to the merger.DMK, Germany's largest dairy company, commences business operations.A large number of Milk delivery cooperatives were formed in Germany towards the end of the 19th century. They merged into ever larger associations over a period of decades. Many dairy companies developed by this route, including Humana and NORDMILCH. The Humana group of companies, with 2.7 billion kilos of milk processed per annum, was among the leaders of Germany's dairy industry. In 2009, the total of 2,900 staff at Humana’s factories in five federal regions achieved an annual turnover of 1.7 billion euros. Around 4,900 member farms delivered milk to 12 production facilities based in five Federal regions. First mention of Humana. A Herford pediatrician develops a baby food under this name. Humana milk is manufactured and marketed originally by the Herford Dairy dairy. The foundation stone of Humana Milchunion eG is laid. Acquisition of Roberg, a private dairy in Everswinkel. Expansion to central production and distribution sites, including management of Milchwerke Münsterland eG. Westmilch Milchunion eG forms as a result of the merger between Milchwerke Paderborn-Rimbeck and Milchwerke Münsterland eG as well as the dairy and the fine cheese factory eG Medebach. The headquarters are located in Everswinkel.Humana Milchunion eG, the parent company of the Humana Group and headquartered in Everswinkel, Germany, is formed as a result of the merger between Milchwerke Westfalen eG, Herford and Westmilch Milchunion eG, Everswinkel.Carveout of business operations : Humana Milchindustrie GmbH takes responsibility for the business operations of Humana Milchunion eG, Meeresland Milchunion Mecklenburg-Vorpommern GmbH and Milchwerke Thüringen GmbH. With an annual volume of milk processed of four billion kilos, NORDMILCH was one of Germany's largest dairy companies before the merger with Humana. The Group employed around 2,500 staff at factories spread over five Federal regions and achieved an annual turnover of 1.9 billion euros in 2009. Most of the milk came from the 7,015 members of the parent company, NORDMILCH eG. With the formation of the central dairy Zentralmolkerei NORDMILCH, the foundation is laid for NORDMILCH as a company.The current NORDMILCH eG is formed by the merger of dairy companies MZO Oldenburger Milch eG, Hansano Milchhof Niedersachsen, Bremerland-Nordheide eG, NORDMILCH eG and Milcheraufnahme-NORDMILCH eG. Its headquarters are in Bremen. Standardization of operating structures: a standardized corporate organization is set up and the company focuses on the brand portfolio (MILRAM, Hansano, Burlander, Oldenburger). Start of the NORDMILCH eG restructuring program. The focal points: further development of the core business and simplification of factory and employee structures. Carveout of business operations into NORDMILCH AG (100% subsidiary of NORDMILCH eG), restructuring programs continues. The focal points: expansion of production capacities and sales redesign.A central research center is opened for product, process and technology development: NIC (NORDMILCH Innovation Center). Merger of NORDMILCH eG with the dairy cooperative Dargun eG Pommernmilch. Zentralkäserei Mecklenburg-Vorpommern GmbH (ZMV), a cheese-making company in which NORDMILCH AG has a participating interest, becomes a wholly owned subsidiary.