Personnel problems, inflation, conversion to organic: natural cheese dairy Tegernseer Land is facing major challenges
Created: 07/06/2022, 07:00
By: Christina Jachert-Maier
After the election, the Executive Board presented itself side by side with (from left) Josef Stadler jun., Sophie Obermüller, Wolfgang Rebensburg and the Supervisory Board, consisting of (from left) Maria Bauer, Josef Kandlinger, Ludwig Raab, Josef Berghammer, and Josef Schreier.
Not in the picture is Elisabeth Höß.
© STEFAN SCHWEIHOFER
The natural cheese dairy Tegernseer Land streamlined and reorganized its management team at the general assembly.
The woman at the top has remained: Sophie Obermüller was re-elected as CEO.
The team faces huge challenges.
Rottach-Egern –
As a welcome, cheese dairy boss Sophie Obermüller recalled a sentence by Karl Valentin: "Can you tell me where I want to go?" A key question in these times of crisis, Obermüller mused at the start of the general assembly in the Rottacher Seeforum.
Who can estimate what Corona, war, inflation and staff shortages still demand of the economy?
"Our company cannot detach itself from that," Obermüller made clear.
Ordinary financial year in difficult times
Despite the difficult times, the cooperative had a decent 2021/22 financial year.
In the end, there was a net income for the year of EUR 168,717.79.
In the previous year it was 176,852.35.
The money goes into reserves, and there is no distribution to the 1729 shareholders even 15 years after the company was founded.
Only one member in the packed hall asked about it.
Erhard Gschrey, auditor and board member since 2020, referred to the currently incalculable rising costs as a response.
"We're not alone in that," he said.
It is better to top up the reserves with the profit.
Striving for the organic seal
For the future, the natural cheese dairy relies on the organic label.
By the end of 2022, twelve of the 20 milk suppliers will have organic certification in their pockets.
The production of organic soft cheese is scheduled to start in September.
At the 2021 General Assembly, the cooperative had already announced the goal of offering all cheese dairy products with an organic seal by 2024.
A decision that causes explosives.
Because all 20 farmers deliver the best hay milk to the cheese dairy.
For the organic seal, however, there are also strict requirements for the type of husbandry, the implementation of which is often difficult or impossible for small businesses.
"We have struggled a lot and will continue to do so," explained board member Johannes Mehringer, who has a small farm himself.
The issue of organic certification is a really difficult question, and the cooperative is currently "in the middle of the issue".
On the one hand, the cheese dairy hopes that the organic seal will open up new sales markets, and on the other hand, it doesn't want to lose any of its suppliers.
Layoffs and new employees
No less important are the employees of the cheese dairy at Reißenbichl, currently 42. A total of 13 of them have been there for ten or more years, Obermüller explained.
But many have also resigned in the past year.
How many? Obermüller does not answer this question.
According to reports, the number is high, and production has sometimes stalled.
"We already had quite a change in personnel," said Rainer Bierschneider, Chairman of the Supervisory Board.
However, the cooperative was able to recruit good new employees.
Obermüller particularly emphasized the team performance, there were honors for loyal employees and applause for the workforce.
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Goodbyes were given (from left) to Gmund's former mayor Georg von Preysing (supervisory board), Erhard Gschrey, Johannes Mehringer (both board members) and Rainer Bierschneider (supervisory board).
© STEFAN SCHWEIHOFER
The CEO herself remains in place.
Your term of office, which began in 2019, ended as scheduled, Obermüller stood for re-election and remained unopposed.
The assembly voted almost unanimously for her, with only one dissenting vote.
The Executive Board is reduced from four to three seats.
Gschrey and Mehringer no longer competed.
Josef Stadler jun., formerly a member of the supervisory board, moved up to the executive board.
Wolfgang Rebensburg is also part of the management trio.
Board of Management and Supervisory Board downsized
The supervisory board shrank from eight to six seats.
Georg von Preysing and Rainer Bierschneider said goodbye, and Ludwig Raab, who brings a great deal of expertise in financial matters, was a new addition.
The board itself decides who takes over the chairmanship of the supervisory board.
158 members of the cooperative attended the meeting, some from far away.
Like Stephan Szasz, Realschule director from Montabaur (Rhineland-Palatinate).
He spoke up to find out how many hotels on Lake Tegernsee obtain cheese from the local company.
Wherever he stays, a Tyrolean mountain farmer delivers cheese to the house.
Hans Seebacher, field service manager at the cheese factory, gave a clear answer.
Business is hardest for him in the Tegernsee valley, where he experiences a lot.
Perhaps half of the hotels purchase cheese products, according to Seebacher.
The prophet doesn't count for anything in his own country, noted Obermüller.
Many companies in the valley still lack appreciation for the regional product and the awareness of synergies: "The envy factor often stands in the way as an obstacle."
