At the Bavarian Farmers’ Association’s autumn dialogue in Herrsching, Clemens Tönnies, managing partner of the Premium Food Group, announced a groundbreaking decision for agriculture in southern Germany. He proposed terminating the existing contract with the Vion Food Group for the takeover of the German locations in Buchloe, Crailsheim, and Waldkraiburg, as well as other companies – contingent upon competitor Westfleisch committing to acquire these operations.
“This isn’t about Tönnies, but about Bavaria and Bavarian farmers”, Tönnies emphasized during the panel discussion. The current uncertainty must be ended to provide the farms with planning security. “This uncertainty must come to an end”.
Although the Premium Food Group still saw good chances of succeeding through a decision by the Higher Regional Court or a ministerial permit, this would involve considerable delays – time that southern German agriculture simply doesn’t have. “We have developed many solutions in recent weeks and months because we believe in the region. But there have been repeated obstacles”, the entrepreneur explained.
Instead, the company is now focusing on strengthening its own site in Kempten in the Allgäu region to ensure competitiveness in the area. Tönnies expressly welcomed the announcement by Dr. Wilhelm Uffelmann, CEO of Westfleisch, that the company intends to acquire all of the Vion Food Group’s plants under consideration.
