2020 APRIL The Official Magazin of the DMK Group Revealed Who our customers are and what they really want Our mighty 16 Stress test How the coronavirus SARSCoV-2 is changing daily life around the world MILK!A classic – and a powerhouse for the future 13 Tasted Trainees present our new star products 26 New Anna-Lena Etgeton, 23 years old (l) and Irene Hanenbergh, 39 years old (r) both at DP Supply EDITORIAL are playing Together We our part against the Our milk is added value. danger Oliver Bartelt Global Head of Corporate “The food sector is of systemic importance” – these are the Communications words of the Agriculture Minister and they are both a challenge and an opportunity for us. Almost all of our departments are grappling with the issue of coronavirus – as are our farmers countrywide – professionally, and also on a personal level. Days like these are making it very clear indeed, what “WE” means. Dear Readers, We are DMK: 14,000 people – of whom 6,000 are farmers. As a cooperative Suddenly, in the space of just a few weeks, a virus has cast a shadow over our lives and dairy, we naturally look out for our farmers and their strug- work: The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is transforming daily life worldwide. Restrictions on gles, and we stick up for them when dealing with our trading our personal freedoms are in place to try and prevent the virus from spreading further, partners. Our farmers want to contribute and invest in today’s so that our health care systems aren‘t overwhelmed. socio-political issues, from sustainability to climate protection Schools are closed, as are daycare centers and playgrounds, and people are changing their homes into offices, to avoid large numbers of people becoming infected at once. and animal welfare. That will only work if the whole value chain Restaurants are shut, borders are closed, concerts, football games, trade fairs and other works together to make sure farmers have the money they need major events have been cancelled. People are being asked to keep their distance. to make such investments. This is the only way that consumers, We at the DMK Group are preparing our employees, farmers and processing plants as by paying fair prices for their products, can enable farmers to best we can for all imaginable scenarios. Right at the start of the crisis, we established a work in a way that is sustainable. That is what we are calling for dedicated working group to coordinate all the measures that are needed. in today’s discussions and debates. Now, each and every one of us is asked to take extra care, and adapt our behavior so that together, we can limit the dangers of this pandemic. This is actually the hour of the Strong together. We shape food. cooperative: What one person cannot manage alone, we will all manage together. WE, the collective. As colleagues with a rich tradition of working together, the sense Of course, there are other issues alongside the coronavirus. Our farmers are out and of unity between employees and farmers has always been at the about on the roads, showing their passion for what they do for us, day in day out. At the heart of our company. Our community is united by our efforts to same time, they are also frustrated that people don‘t seem to understand what they go feed millions of people. What makes us unique is the special care through and why their efforts are not reflected in the way food is priced here in Germa- we take of the milk on its journey from the farm to the dairies, ny. Here too, WE come into play: Our milk is important and valuable! And that is why we from the supermarket shelves to consumers‘ kitchen tables. Our have put it at the very heart of our spring edition of the magazine. milk is not just any milk – it is our farmers who make sure that it meets the highest possible standards. We hope you enjoy reading it. And stay well! We want to develop solutions together and the way forward is through partnership and dialogue. Best regards, Our warehouses are well stocked. People are going to be Thank you! able to count on our supplies Oliver Bartelt during the coronavirus crisis WE FROM DMK 1. scan the 2. see the HAVE A MESSAGE QR-Code full clip April 2020 MILCHWELT 3 INSIDE INSIDE COVER OUR MIGHTY MILK 12 –23 Boost your career at DMK. Our trainees Answers from We cannot imagine life without milk, 26Milk’s new stars. gain more than just a Ingo Müller a classic product that is also our dairy Kalder Kaffee 32 profession: Each can cooperative’s DNA. Developers, research- unbelievably contribute their crea- ers and strategists are now working tire- strong, Ahoj ice tivity and ideas. cream and Baileys Our milk: lessly to create tomorrow’s products from mini ice cream – Where next? milk, that master of transformation. meet the new products 18 NEWS and find The Farmer. out why What he wants and how and what needs Trainees 2020: What DMK Offers they are Milk’s Interview to change. the Next Generation 32 – 33 made. new Frank About Our Brand 40 – 43 stars Claassen From The Regions 55 COMPANY What’s Next? Ingo Müller 34 on the current situation 12 – 15 36 We are very well prepared: Consumer, Farmer, Retail – Trade, An interview with CFO It is Time to Take Stock 16– 23 Chocolate, praline and Frank Claassen about the The Long Way to the Perfect Product: candy: The Industry Farmer, challenges of our business Daily Life for Our Developers 24 – 25 business unit showcas- Consumer 39 and the measures that are Stars Made of Milk: es the capabilities of underway. Advertising DMK. with love: New Products and Synergies 26 – 31 Why it is so We are Well Prepared: CFO Frank important Claassen on our Finances 34 – 35 for people to What do they do? identify with a An Introduction to the brand. Industry Business Unit 36 – 38 Marketing: How People Come to Identify with a Brandt 39 51 The Netherlands – How the Maxima 44 Project is Bringing us Together 44 – 45 Logistics using an The Netherlands. app: Faster, easier Digital Tools for DMK 52 – 53 We want to grow and more precise, Practical Tips: together. thanks to a leap into Make your own Quark 54 13 the digital age. The coronavirus stress test. DMK is taking special FARMING AND AGRICULTURE measures to ensure a steady supply of our high-value milk The Biodiversity Report 46 – 47 products. The Sector Strategy Report 48 – 49 The Fieldwork Report 50 – 51 IN EVERY ISSUE Contacts to the Editorial Department 56 DMK in the Media 56 – 57 Masthead 57 Contact to Regional Leaders 57 DMK Sweepstakes 58 Recipe 59 4 MILCHWELT April 2020 April 2020 MILCHWELT 5 FACTS & FIGURES FACTS & FIGURES 1 A personal moment You could see your photo here too: Starting in our next issue, we will share the best picture readers send us. It could be the Jenny Hensel and her husband birth of a calf, the prettiest part of your farm, a scene from Norman both work for wheyco in Altentreptow. Here, together the office or your family enjoying a meal together. Unleash with their daughter Mathilda, they are enjoying MILRAM’s your creativity – the sky is the limit new lemon and strawberry Find out more on page 58 buttermilk ice cream 6 MILCHWELT April 2020 April 2020 MILCHWELT 7 FACTS & FIGURES FACTS & FIGURES 365 days is how long the Golden Olga will spend at the Fulde dairy farm, home to 400 cows. The prize celebrates the farm’s exemplary commitment to animal welfare and sustainability 8 MILCHWELT April 2020 April 2020 MILCHWELT 9 FACTS & FIGURES FACTS & FIGURES 1000 tractors Farmers have held protests over the last few months, calling for fairer food prices and opposing fertilizer restrictions 10 MILCHWELT April 2020 April 2020 MILCHWELT 11 INTERVIEW INTERVIEW Ingo Müller has been CEO of the DMK Group since 2016 Coronavirus – How we are managing our responsibilities “As a company in the food industry, we responded early to the outbreak of the corona- virus, and took the necessary precautions to keep everyone safe: We established a crisis management team which con- stantly monitors the situation, evaluates what needs to be done and introduces the meas- ures that are needed. That’s how we are making sure that DMK is doing the right thing in this volatile situation. Of course, we also have to protect people. As Germany’s Ingo largest dairy cooperative, we atre feeding the popula- Müller tion and beyond, providing on: high-quality dairy products. Working hand in hand with our political and food retail … The year 2019 and the future … Positioning DMK partners, we are ensuring that 2019 placed enormous demands on all We are and remain a company of farm- the nation is supplied with of us, the farmers, the employees in the ers. And we will step up and defend our dairy products. I would like DMK Group and the entire industry. farmers – also when it comes to negoti- Our mighty to express my special thanks Our payout price in 2019 was not what ating prices with retailers. We are in a to our employees, who do we wanted it better posi- their very best every day, in to be. On the tion to do this difficult circumstances, to upside, how- “We are and today than ensure business goes on as ever, at DMK we were in the usual.