Black Forest Milk expands with Bauhofer Cheese takeover

Black Forest Milk acquires Bauhofer Cheese to boost production and farmer profits

Black Forest Milk Dairy Cooperative Expands Cheese Business with Acquisition of Bauhofer Cheese DairyFor some 800 dairy farms, the move promises greater value creation and stable milk prices.

Cooperative Dairy with 800 Member Farms

Black Forest Milk (Schwarzwaldmilch) is a cooperatively structured dairy enterprise. For its roughly 800 affiliated dairy farms, this step means one thing above all: an additional avenue for high-quality processing of their delivered milk. The company emphasizes that cheese production often yields more stable returns compared to fresh milk sales—a crucial factor for farm economic planning and a buffer against price fluctuations.

Adding Value to the Precious Raw Material: Milk

Both companies stress their deep regional roots and unwavering commitment to quality. "We are innovating to secure our future and transform the valuable raw material of milk into premium products," says Markus Kaiser, chairman of the supervisory board of the Black Forest Milk Group.

20 Million Kilograms of Milk from Bauhofer Cheese Dairy

Bauhofer Cheese Dairy processes around 20 million kilograms of milk annually, specializing in traditional varieties such as Allgäu Emmental and alpine cheese. Black Forest Milk contributes an additional 260 million kilograms of milk to the new partnership. Together, the two companies generated over €290 million in revenue last year. The previous managing directors, Martin and Michael Bauhofer, will continue to lead the Bauhofer Cheese Dairy.

Black Forest Milk to Operate at Three Sites

For Black Forest Milk, the focus is not just on growth but on strengthening value creation. "With Bauhofer's cheese expertise, we can expand sales and revenue in the coming years while boosting profitability," says managing director Andreas Schneider. Going forward, the group will produce at facilities in Freiburg, Offenburg, and Bodnegg.

The Critical Factor: Milk Prices for Producers

For dairy farmers, the key question is whether the added value in cheese production will translate into higher, more stable milk prices over the long term—since that directly determines the viability of their operations.