Meggle has acquired fellow German dairy Rücker, continuing its expansion in the cheese market.
Financial details of the transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, were not disclosed.
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In a statement yesterday, Meggle said the deal is “strengthening its market position and further expanding its cheese product segment”.
The Wasserburg am Inn-headquartered company noted that cheese has played a “strategically important role” in its portfolio since the 2021 purchase of Stegmann Emmentaler Käsereien from French cooperative Sodiaal.
Now operating as Meggle Cheese, the business produces Emmental cheese in Altusried, Bavaria, under the Aggenstein brand and private labels.
With a team of 610 people and €500m ($583.5m) in revenues in 2024, Rücker dairy is said to be “one of the largest” privately-owned cheese producers in Germany.
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By GlobalDataOperating from sites in Aurich and Wismar, the fourth-generation family-run business was founded in 1890 and is led by Klaus Rücker.
It processes around 700 million kg of milk annually to produce 90,000t of cheese, 20,000t of butter, and 20,000t of milk powder each year.
Matthias Oettel, CEO of Meggle Holding SE, said: “With Rücker, we are gaining a healthy company that not only has an impressive history but also brings extensive expertise and innovative strength in cheese and dairy processing.
“Together, we will pool our competencies, make investments, and lay the foundation for further growth.”
Klaus Rücker added: “With Meggle, we have found a partner that, as a long-standing family business, shares similar values and where strategy and product portfolios complement each other well. We are confident that our company will find a good home here.”
Rücker’s brand portfolio includes its namesake Rücker, known for northern German cheeses such as Alter Schwede, Alt-Mecklenburger, and Friesischer Hirtenkäse. Additional brands include oba and Waterkant for white cheeses, and Vega Lecker for plant-based offerings.
Meggle, which has operations across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the US, generated approximately €1.4bn in revenues in 2024.
In addition to consumer products such as dairy, plant-based and baked goods, the company also caters to industrial clients in the pharmaceutical and ingredients sector.
