Just over a year ago, Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller took over the majority of the German dairy products business of the Dutch dairy company Royal FrieslandCampina. Approximately 400 employees at the Heilbronn and Schefflenz sites in Germany were informed that both sites will be gradually shut down by summer 2026. 

The main reasons for this decision were explained to employees: 

Cost pressure and investment requirements: the cost structures at the Heilbronn and Schefflenz sites are too high and not competitive. In addition, there is an enormous need for investment at the Heilbronn site, which further exacerbates the situation.

Challenging market situation: In the highly competitive dairy products market, which includes the yoghurts and desserts produced at the Heilbronn site, significant volume growth and the resulting cost efficiencies are not expected in the medium to long term. 

Cornelia Heiser, Managing Director responsible for the Landliebe business: “A comprehensive economic analysis has shown that, under these conditions, the two production sites have no prospect of returning from the deep red to a profitable business in the long term. We will integrate the product portfolio into other German locations of the Group. We are aware that this decision will cause uncertainty among employees and will start talks with the works council as soon as possible with the aim of finding socially acceptable solutions.”