Raiffeisen cooperatives

Raiffeisen, commodity and service cooperatives

From farmers to winegrowers

2,604 legally independent commodity and service cooperatives operate on the basis of the principles set by Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen. Almost all farmers, gardeners and winegrowers are members of one or more rural cooperatives.
In their role as market and service enterprises of the German agriculture, the Raiffeisen cooperatives supply their members with resources and equipment such as feed, fertiliser and machinery. They keep account of and process the entire spectrum of animal and plant products.

Diverse forms of services

The agricultural cooperatives market their products on domestic and foreign markets. They have declared their targets to be securing high yields and the entrepreneurial independence of the farming members. Cooperatives are important trade and contractual partners of farmers, especially in the marketing of animal and plant products and in the purchasing of inputs and equipment. The field of commercial activity also encompasses a diverse variety of services and consulting. This includes the maintainance of agricultural machinery and consulting members on setting up production systems which take account of market and environment. They also sound the chances of new products on the market. Raiffeisen cooperatives carry out soil tests, provide advice on pest management and analyse feed samples. For years they have been committed to promoting the cultivation and marketing of renewable resources.

Strong presence in the rural areas

The cooperatives play a particularly important role in supplying rural areas with basic commodities. They deliver heating oil and fuels to small-scale industry, agricultural and private customers and run over 670 modern specialist DIY and garden stores. More than 1,600 Raiffeisen stores stock a wide selection of high-quality goods for the home and garden, as well as animal food. Expert advisors are on hand to provide any information the customer may require. Cooperatives are also active in the recycling of packaging, e.g. the recycling of waste materials. Their comprehensive range of services helps to maintain the viability and appeal of the countryside.

Quality and safety

For the food production and food trade sector, the Raiffeisen cooperatives are important, reliable partners in the value-added chain. Through close association with producers and cooperation between primary cooperatives, regional centres and national institutions, the cooperatives supply products in the required quantity and quality. Through collecting, storing and processing of agricultural produce, they bundle tradable commodities. The cooperatives carry out strict checks, work with reliable quality assurance systems and guarantee a cast-iron proof of origin. Quality and safety are the top priority. Brand products of cooperative origin are very highly thought of by consumers in Germany and abroad.

Joining forces

From the self-help communities born out of necessity during the 19th century, modern and efficient Raiffeisen cooperatives developed. They fulfil the ever more demanding standards set for the quality of raw materials and foods.
Tough competition on the European and worldwide agricultural markets, the continuing structural changes in the agricultural industry and the increasing concentration in the preliminary and post-production stages of trade also force cooperatives to further bundle their economic powers. This process is already at a very advanced stage.

Farming cooperatives

When Germany was reunified, the Raiffeisen organisation took over the consulting, support and auditing of farming cooperatives in East Germany. They now play an important role: in the year 2010, 834 farming cooperatives made a turnover of approximately 2,000 million euros. Over 30,000 people are employed by these enterprises.

Figures of the Raiffeisen cooperatives

Raiffeisen cooperatives are an important economic factor and employer in rural areas. In the year 2010, the Raiffeisen organisation achieved a total turnover of 41,000 million euros. It was able to reinforce its market position. Currently, around 100,000 people are employed in cooperatives, including numerous specialists and highly qualified experts.

The Deutscher Raiffeisenverband e.V. (DRV –German Raiffeisen Federation – reg. assoc.) represents the manifold interests of rural cooperatives in dealings with government, parliament, administrators and associations as well as on a national and international level in the public sphere. The DRV headquarters are in Bonn. The Federation also has offices in Berlin and Brussels.