DMK eG Members’ Meeting Approves Merger with DOC Kaas U.A. to Form a European Cooperative Society (SCE)

Hanover, 1 July 2026. The General Meeting of Representatives of DMK eG has unanimously approved the cross-border merger with its Dutch sister cooperative, DOC Kaas U.A., to form a European Cooperative Society (‘Societas Cooperativa Europaea’, SCE). With this resolution, the two agricultural co-operatives are taking a further important step towards their merger with Arla Foods amba to form Europe’s leading dairy co-operative.

The approval of the representatives of DMK eG fulfils a key prerequisite for the merger of DMK eG and DOC Kaas U.A. into a single European cooperative. The new SCE brings together the cooperative roots of both organisations in Germany and the Netherlands and lays the foundation for merging with Arla Foods amba over the course of the agreed two-year transition period.
The decision was taken in connection with the merger of Arla Foods and the DMK Group. The amalgamation of DMK eG and DOC Kaas U.A. is a key legal intermediate step in this merger: only the amalgamation of DMK eG and DOC Kaas U.A. into a European Cooperative Society based in Denmark will enable the subsequent merger with Arla to form a single agricultural cooperative. Since 1 June 2026, DMK eG and DOC Kaas U.A. have already been members of Arla Foods amba as cooperatives. At the same time, DMK GmbH and its subsidiaries became subsidiaries of Arla Foods amba.
At the DOC Kaas U.A. Members’ Council meeting, which took place in parallel, the merger was also unanimously approved.

A significant step for the future of the cooperative movement
The merger to form a European Cooperative brings together two companies that share common values and whose strengths complement each other to a great extent. It safeguards farmers’ cooperative participation across national borders and creates a reliable foundation for further integration.

Heinz Korte, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of DMK: “Today’s resolution by our General Meeting marks a decisive step forward. Our members have once again demonstrated that they believe in the strength of the cooperative ideal and are prepared to take joint responsibility for the future. The European Cooperative is a crucial step on the path to our full merger with Arla.”

Thomas Stürtz, CEO of DMK: “The approval of the delegates is a strong sign of confidence. Together with our colleagues at DOC Kaas, we are establishing a European cooperative, which is an essential prerequisite for our merger with Arla – for the benefit of our members in Germany and the Netherlands.”

Next steps
Following this resolution, DMK eG and DOC Kaas U.A. will complete the merger to form a European Cooperative Society (SCE). The SCE will be named “Arla Foods 2026 SCE med begrænset hæftelse” and will have its registered office in Aarhus, Denmark. The SCE will subsequently be merged into Arla.