Milk connects generations, creates value in rural areas and is part of the daily diet of millions of people. On Swiss Milk Day on 11 April, the Emmi Group shows how it develops this heritage further together with its milk suppliers: responsibly, innovatively and with enjoyable and functional premium dairy products that stand out.
The Swiss dairy industry has been characterised by family-run farms for centuries and provides income and prospects, particularly in rural areas. The Emmi Group is rooted in this tradition: from dairyfarmers’ cooperatives in Central Switzerland that work together to ensure quality, create value and think across generations. To this day, Emmi is majority-owned by ZMP Invest AG, which represents approximately 2,800 dairy suppliers from Central Switzerland
This system is supported by dairy farmers who cultivate grassland that would otherwise not be usable. Ruminants such as cows turn grass into high-quality food. Due to the limited arable land around the world, milk therefore makes an important contribution to global food security. Emmi is constantly developing this value and combines origins with sustainable dairy farming.
Responsibility along the entire value chain
In Switzerland, Emmi works closely with its approximately 5,000 milk suppliers, acting as a reliable partner that purchases milk both under contract and beyond. Emmi recognises the day-to-day commitment of its milk suppliers as the basis for its high-quality dairy products. At the same time, Emmi aims to make sustainable dairy the norm. With pioneering projects such as KlimaStaR Milk, the company works with partners to further reduce its carbon footprint in the dairy industry, while Switzerland has one of the strictest animal welfare laws in the world. The company also creates positive social impact: Around 280 farmer ambassadors engage with the public, share insights into their everyday work and put a face to the people behind the milk. Emmi is also investing in the future of the industry: It provides specialised training for dairy technologists, thereby securing long-term expertise in the sector.
Entrepreneurial spirit and enjoyment: actively shaping the dairy shelf and beyond
It all starts with the natural product milk, rich in high-quality protein and essential nutrients. The end result is a wide range of delicious dairy products that are a staple in the daily lives of millions of people. This is precisely where Emmi comes in: milk and dairy products only remain relevant if they continue to evolve and if they are convincing in terms of taste, functionality and quality.
Emmi is actively shaping the dairy shelf and is constantly developing new concepts in line with changing needs and consumer megatrends. Successful examples – from drinkable meals such as I’m your meal and natural yogurts like Jogurt Pur to high-protein products such as Emmi Energy Milk High Protein, and fermented products like kefir – show how tradition and innovation can be combined. In doing so, Emmi is strengthening the relevance of dairy in everyday life while at the same time demonstrating that Swiss dairy expertise is in demand worldwide: with products such as Kaltbach cheese and fondue available in over 90 countries.
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