History

31.01.1932

Establishment of the cooperative Erbeskopf eG in Thalfang.

1932

Start of butter production.

1935

Start of manufacture of coffee cream and sour cream for marketing in the region.

1938

As the first cooperative company in Germany, the production of condensed milk began in Thalfang.

1939

Start of the war: the production of long-life milk was ceased in favour of the production of fresh milk.

1947

The production of condensed milk was resumed.

1950

Difficult economic situation of the dairy because of the loss of the previous sales area due to the separation of the Saar district. Gerhard  Bornefeld-Ettmann assumed the function of the first, deceased CEO, Eduard Böhmert.

1953

Acquisition of the condensed milk plant "Immergut" Dr. Löchel in Ibbenbüren, establishment of "Hochwald-Milchwerke GmbH" as affiliate.

1954-1955

Resolution for the construction of the dedicated can production works for condensed milk manufacture in Thalfang.

1962

New construction of the Steinbeck long-life milk plant to replace the aged Ibbenbüren plant.

1963

Start of slaughtering cows and pigs in Thalfang.

1967

Construction of a butchery and meat processing plant in Thalfang.

1969-1970

Mergers with adjacent dairies Morbach, Bitburg, Büchenbeuren, Irrel, Birkenfeld and Blankenrath. The production range was expanded by bakery products.

1970

Commissioning of the butchery and meat processing plant in Meppen/River Ems.

1978

Dr. Gottfried Haubold succeeds Gerhard Bornefeld-Ettmann as CEO and chairman of the cooperative board after his retirement.

1982

Renewal of tin can production in Thalfang, changing from the soldering process to manufacture of welded cans with a folded cover lid and concentration of the condensed milk production, which previously also took place in Steinbeck, in the Thalfang dairy plant.

1986-1990

During these years, mergers were accomplished with Pfalzmilch eG, Kaiserslautern, with Nahe-Milch eG, Fischbach and the Kastellaun dairy. Completion of the administration building in Thalfang.

1991

Mergers with the dairies in Worms, Trier and with Saarland Milch.

1999

Change of chairman of the board and CEO: Dr. Karl-Heinz Engel succeeds Dr. Gottfried Haubold.

2001

Discontinuation of slaughtering and cutting in Thalfang and extension of ham and sausage production in the Thalfang meat plant.

2001-2002

Mergers with Eifelperle Milch eG, Hillesheim and Milchwerke am Burgwald eG, Wohratal, the cooperative is re-named "Erbeskopf Eifelperle eG".

2002

Merger with Molkerei Borken eG, Borken/Hesse and establishment of cooperation with Poppenburg, the Westphalian manufacturer of tinned sausages in Borgholzhausen.

2003

Hochwald acquires the Nestlé sector condensed milk/dairy products in Weiding with the brands Bärenmarke and Glücksklee. Furthermore, acquirement of the Nestlé dairy plant in Lüneburg with the brand Lünebest.

2005

The cooperative Erbeskopf Eifelperle eG merges with Starmilch eG in Fulda and takes over the brands: Der kleine Strolch, Moha, Rote Kuh, Ramonte.

2006

Hochwald acquires the Nestlé export brands Bonny and Carnation (license) and takes over the Nestlé plant in Bolsward/Netherlands.

2007

The cooperative Erbeskopf Eifelperle eG celebrate their 75th anniversary.