A group of about 10 dissatisfied members will definitively leave Cono Kaasmakers on April 1. As a result, the cheese producer of various brand cheeses from the Beemster will lose a large amount of milk of 50 million kilograms, which is equivalent to about 10% of the milk volume that Cono processes annually. The cooperative says it regrets the decision and also notes that the lost volume will be lower in practice.
At the end of October, it was already announced that the group of dissatisfied dairy farmers, who usually have many cows, was in talks with other processors. Now a spokesman states that they are definitively switching to two other processors. According to him, this concerns Lactalis Leerdammer and the Producers Organization Dairy Farming (POM), which has recently become active in the trade of milk and dairy. The volume distribution between these buyers of a total of approximately 50 million kilograms of milk is not disclosed.
Cocktail of factors
The departure of the group from Cono has various reasons. There is dissatisfaction with the lagging milk price in recent years. They are also bothered that non-grazing dairy farmers are deducted from the milk money. In addition, the decision by Cono to abolish the entrance premium for new entrants to the cooperative last year, while retaining the exit premium, is a point of contention. This amounts to 4% of the average turnover over the past 5 years.
The investment by Cono in Ikwileerlijkezuivel.nl has also not been well received by the group, as they believe that membership fees are being used for sustainability goals that non-grazing members do not benefit from.
New members for Cono as well
Losing 10% of the milk supply is a blow to Cono Kaasmakers. In the current shrinking market, where the competition for milk among processors has intensified in recent years, that volume is not easily replenished. The cooperative states in a response that the members in question have communicated their departure in writing. Cono regrets the departure, but says it respects the choice of each individual member. Cono also states that it does not recognize the volume of 50 million kilograms, but according to the cooperative, the loss will be over 30 million kilograms of milk by 2025. Additionally, Cono emphasizes that besides departing members, new members will also be welcomed this year.
Cono further states about the departing members: "We chose a course long ago that some members no longer agree with. This course has successfully positioned our cheese in the premium segment. Through our way of working, we can effectively manage fluctuations in milk supply. At the same time, we have welcomed new members in recent years and we have sufficient sustainable high-quality milk to make our premium cheese." The spokesperson also mentions that the argument presented by the departing members regarding Ikwileerlijkezuivel.nl is incorrect. "The result that comes from this actually benefits all farmers."