Raiffeisen cooperatives merge: Strong partnership for the region!

Raiffeisen cooperatives merge: Strong partnership for the region!

Exciting things are happening in the world of agricultural cooperatives: the Raiffeisen cooperatives Ammerland-Ostfriesland and Wesermarsch have merged to form a new, strong unit. So reported NWZonline. The merger has been valid retroactively since January 1, 2025 and has led to the founding of the Raiffeisen goods cooperative Ammerland-Ostfriesland, which now has over 2,700 members.

With an impressive planned annual turnover of around 265 million euros, the new cooperative will have a great impact in the region. The trading area includes agricultural goods, including feed, implements and fertilizer. In this context, the merged cooperative will make an important contribution to regional agriculture.

Strong external image and solid foundation

The Raiffeisen goods cooperative Ammerland-Ostfriesland can look back on a remarkable history. Before the merger, it had already achieved sales of around 197 million euros last year and was more than four and a half times larger than the Wesermarsch cooperative. Their regional history also plays an important role: Wesermarsch has 75 employees and seven locations that will be integrated into the new cooperative. In the long term, the offering and variety of services for members will be significantly expanded.

The locations of both cooperatives will remain the same, which will ensure that business continues smoothly. The new company is headed by managing directors Hermann Mammen and Renke Schröder, while Ingo Böning from RWG Wesermarsch is retiring. The chairman of the board is Hergen Eilers and the chairman of the supervisory board is Rolf Dreesman.

The importance of agricultural cooperatives

What makes agricultural cooperatives so important for our region? A look at the numbers shows: Around 800 agricultural cooperatives in Germany manage around 3.6 million hectares of land (as of 2020) and not only make a major contribution to food security, but also promote environmental and climate protection. This supports the various initiatives for landscape conservation and the creation of renewable energies from wind, sun and biogas.

The cooperative legal form not only strengthens democratic structures, but also the image and competitiveness of agriculture. In this way, members can not only put their trust in the cooperative, but also actively contribute to shaping rural development and reducing fossil fuels. Considered in this context Raiffeisen.de the diversified tasks of the cooperatives as crucial for a sustainable future.

In total, almost 30,000 members work in the agricultural cooperatives, which employ around 20,000 people. Agricultural Cooperatives.com highlights how important they are as flexible and innovative players in the market. They respond specifically to challenges from politics and society in order to keep rural life attractive and promote regional added value.

The merger of the Raiffeisen cooperatives Ammerland-Ostfriesland and Wesermarsch is therefore not just a merger of two established companies, but a strategic step towards sustainable and responsible agriculture in Germany.