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German Meggle takes over cheese maker Rücker
Meggle, a Bavarian family-owned dairy company, is acquiring its North German counterpart, Rücker. Rücker is also a family-owned company, but smaller. The acquisition will increase Meggle's revenue by over 40%, to a total of approximately €2 billion.
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No reason for the merger has been given, but against the backdrop of the announced merger of Arla and DMK, it is no surprise that this takeover is taking place.
Meggle is a financially strong company with a turnover of over €1,4 billion. While it doesn't disclose profit figures, the company has a solid reputation. It operates primarily in Germany, but also in the US, the Balkans, and the Middle East. In terms of dairy, Meggle is primarily a consumer dairy company with strong regional brands.
In 2021, it expanded into the cheese industry with the acquisition of Stegmann Emmentaler Käsereien in Altusried, from the French company Sodiaal. Rücker adds more cheese to its portfolio.
Rücker achieved a turnover of €504 million last year, €48 million more than the previous year. The company achieved a modest profit of €4,3 million, slightly higher than in 2023. Unlike Meggle, Rücker has traditionally been known as a commodity company, with a strong focus on foil cheese. Consequently, 60% of its turnover comes from cheese, around 25% from milk and whey powders, and 15% from butter. The company has two factories: one in Aurich and one in Wismar.