The Uelzena Group is essentially a cooperative, supported by dairy farms as well as milk collection cooperatives and their milk producers. Therefore, the focus is not on maximizing the profit of the cooperative, but on the milk payout required to keep the milk-producing farms viable. By tradition, this has been the focus of our business strategy.
What may sound a bit unusual or old-fashioned for corporations has been the way of life at Uelzena for decades – with success: The company has been able to grow at a healthy speed, despite sometimes very difficult industry and market challenges. The basis for this has been and still is, the way that we deal with environmental analyses, goals and measures on a regular basis. We are in constant communication with stakeholders and balance the various expectations in our corporate strategy. This is how we establish values for our key stakeholders. The bottom line:
- Our aim: The Uelzena Group intends to be the best in the industry.
- What drives us: Our responsibility to our farmers and our passion for producing sustainably good dairy products and foods.
Since 2014, the way that we as a Group consider our responsibility to the various stakeholder groups has been laid down in our five action fields. The most important objectives have been defined and documented for this purpose (see table below). They are regularly adjusted and relate to 2025. The five action fields with associated objectives form a compass to guide the company towards successful, transparent and lasting development.
Successful corporate development
In the interests of our stakeholders, the group seeks to develop the company for long-term success. It is crucial to strike the right balance between the various stakeholder interests and requirements as well as sustainability principles. The Uelzena Group’s economic performance forms the basis for meeting the various requirements, and we regard securing and further developing this economic performance to be our main priority.
OBJECTIVES
A competitive milk price and reliable sales volumes for our members
Consistently good company results
- Long-term independence of the company group
Autonomous employees
The success of the Uelzena Group relies primarily on its employees and good collaboration. Our employees’ expert knowledge, experience and motivation are vital to the company. We therefore aim to find qualified, independent employees and for the company to retain them in the long term. We consider it important to offer qualified vocational training and to develop and advance our employees and management at all stages of their career. And we ensure social and fair working conditions. This is true not only for our own employees, but also for those employed by our sub-contractors. In general, the Uelzena Group wants to continue refining its attractiveness as an employer.
OBJECTIVES
Increase attractiveness as an employer
Long-term employment of skilled workers
Development and advancement of employees and management
Reliable products
Our strength lies in reliably implementing individual customer requirements. The continuous improvement of our current methods and processes as well as our employee training ensure we maintain the high quality and food safety level we have established and helps the Uelzena Group to continually develop further. This food safety culture we promote and embody leads to high customer satisfaction and improves the added value of all the product groups we offer.
OBJECTIVES
Improve the added value of all product groups
Ensure the production of safe and high-quality products on a long-term basis
Expand the range of sustainably sourced raw ingredients and materials
Continually improve food safety culture
Efficient production
We manufacture safe and reliable quality products in a way that – as far as possible – is cost-effective and conserves resources so that we can strengthen our competitiveness. By using modern technology, optimising our sales and operations planning and focusing on sustainable processes, we maximise the added value along the entire production chain. Standardising core processes makes it possible to harmonise our procedures across all our plant locations, thereby ensuring high quality and flexibility. The Uelzena Group continuously upgrades its production plants and processes. This is why we are able to work with exacting multinational customers whose requirements often extend beyond the conventional standards for food production
OBJECTIVES
Process optimisation – Reduce lead times and minimise downtime
Resource efficiency – Lower energy and water consumption as well as reduce waste
Standardisation and scalability – Harmonise production processes
Supply chain optimisation – Improve raw material procurement and logistics processes
Flexibility of production and personnel planning – Adaptable production processes
Social and regional responsibility
As a cooperative dairy with regional roots, the Uelzena Group believes it has a certain responsibility to the milk-producing regions of its members and its site locations. Consequently, we want to work with regional suppliers and service providers, and support young people as well as the volunteer work of our employees. This boosts the region and fulfils the statutory purpose of our cooperative. Our compliance with relevant laws and regulations in addition to our own code of conduct goes without saying and is something we also expect from all our business partners.
OBJECTIVES
Preference for regional suppliers and service providers
Support of regional youth and voluntary work
Compliance with legislation and our own code of conduct