What Farmel does

Farmel is a Dutch dairy trading intermediary founded in 2008 and headquartered in Emmeloord, Netherlands. The company sits between approximately 300 dairy farmers in the Netherlands and Belgium and a customer base of roughly 50 dairy processors, retailers, and industrial buyers, collecting close to 400 million kilograms of raw milk per year. The product portfolio spans raw milk, milk powder, butter, AMF, and liquid dairy across conventional and certified specialty streams — including organic, Beter Leven, On the way to PlanetProof, VLOG, Weidemelk, and A2 — and is distributed both domestically and internationally, with Germany explicitly cited as an export destination.

The business operates on an asset-light trading model rather than owning processing capacity: the company routes milk from its farmer base to multiple external processors and end users based on quality, certification, and price. Since 2021 it has run both quoted and fixed-price contracts alongside long-term customer relationships, balancing spot liquidity with committed volume. In September 2021 Farmel briefly extended into processing by acquiring Veco Zuivel; that asset was sold to Inex in September 2024, returning Farmel to a pure intermediary position. The company is jointly owned 50/50 by the founding team (Jan-Henry van der Linde, Aris van Ommeren, Johan Schep) and Ausnutria, the Dutch dairy group itself partially held by Chinese dairy major Yili. Ausnutria is simultaneously one of Farmel's most important customers, creating a structural commercial overlap between ownership and offtake.

Quality assurance is anchored in COKZ supervision and Quality Milk Chain certification, with Dutch regulatory standards described as exceeding EU baseline requirements. Headcount sits at approximately 60-70 employees, and 2021 revenue was estimated at roughly €450 million — overwhelmingly dairy trade. Support functions include a Dycotrade ERP system (implemented with DNA Services in 2021) and a farmer-side extranet; commercial development includes the 2024 launch of "Milk Supply as a Service" and ongoing trade-fair presence at events including DjazAgro (Algeria) and RMV Hardenberg.

Name

Farmel

Legal name

Farmel Dairy B.V.

Website

https://farmel.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Farmel is a Dutch dairy trading intermediary collecting ~400 million kilograms of raw milk annually from around 300 farmers in the Netherlands and Belgium, supplying processors, retailers, and exporters with liquid dairy, milk powder, butter, and certified specialty streams such as Beter Leven and PlanetProof.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dairy Trading & Distribution

NAICS

Other Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers (424590), Dairy Cattle and Milk Production (11212), Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Milk Production (Raw Milk) (AFAEACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Organic Dairy Cattle Farming (AFAEACAJ), Pasture-Based & Grazing Dairy Systems (AFAEACAI)

Keywords

• Dairy trading
• Raw milk supply
• Milk powder distribution
• Butter and AMF
• Commodity dairy trading

Headquarters

HQ city

Emmeloord

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Raw Milk Trading: Farmel collects raw milk from their network of dairy farmers and trades it to dairy processors. They operate as an intermediary matching milk supply with demand from processors.
2. Dairy Product Trading: Trading in various dairy products including liquid dairy, milk powder, and butter. They supply these products to processors and end users worldwide.
3. Specialty Milk Streams: Differentiation through various milk streams such as organic, Beter Leven (Better Life), pasture-fed, VLOG, A2, allowing premium pricing for certified/organic products.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Farmel is a Dutch dairy trading intermediary that collects raw milk from a national network of dairy farmers and trades it to dairy processors worldwide. The company arranges the processing and trading of liquid dairy products, milk powder, and butter/AMF, alongside specialty milk streams (organic, Beter Leven, meadow milk, VLOG, A2, PlanetProof), with affiliated distribution handled via Holland Agri Foods.

Product overview

Farmel is a fast-growing Dutch dairy trading company that operates as an intermediary between dairy farmers and dairy processors. The company offers a unified product portfolio centered on raw milk and dairy commodity trading, with three core product categories: Liquid Dairy Products (including raw milk, cream, permeates and concentrates), Milk Powder (including skimmed, full cream, and whey powder), and Butter/AMF. Beyond conventional products, Farmel differentiates through specialized milk streams including organic, meadow milk (Weidemelk), VLOG, A2, and On the way to PlanetProof. The company manages its own network of dairy farmers in the Netherlands and Belgium, collecting approximately 400 million kg of milk annually, which is then sold to processors. Farmel previously operated Veco Zuivel (sold to Inex in 2024) and maintains strategic investments in Dutch Farm Plan and Holland Agri Foods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Liquid Dairy Products Trading of liquid dairy products (raw and processed fluid milk) sourced from a Dutch farmer network and supplied to industrial dairy processors for further processing.
• Milk Powder Trading of milk powder (dried dairy ingredients) sourced from Dutch dairy streams and supplied to industrial dairy and food processors globally for use in dairy ingredient applications.
• Butter and AMF Trading of butter and Anhydrous Milk Fat (AMF) produced from arranged processing of Dutch raw milk, supplied to industrial dairy and food processors worldwide.
• Specialty Milk Streams (Organic, Beter Leven, Meadow Milk, VLOG, A2, PlanetProof) Trading of certified and differentiated raw milk streams including organic, Beter Leven (Better Life label), meadow milk (weidegang), VLOG (German non-GM), A2, and PlanetProof varieties, providing processors with milk aligned to specific certified end-product requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Collects nearly 400 million kg of milk annually from Dutch and Belgian farmers
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Stichting Milieukeur (SMK)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 August 2024Farmel joined as a chain partner in the collaboration between Stichting Milieukeur (On the way to PlanetProof) and the Dierenbescherming (Beter Leven label 1 star). This provides dairy farmers supplying milk for On the way to PlanetProof the opportunity to take further steps in animal welfare within their own milk stream.
• Dierenbescherming (Dutch Animal Protection)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 August 2024Farmel joined as chain partner in collaboration with Stichting Milieukeur for the Beter Leven label 1 star certification. Farmel is one of the initiators of the Better Life label for dairy products.
• VecozuivelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 September 2021Farmel took a majority stake in Vecozuivel from Zeewolde in September 2021, intensifying existing cooperation between the two companies. The acquisition gave Farmel access to their own production facility. Vecozuivel specializes in processing various milk streams including organic and sustainable milk. In September 2024, Farmel sold Vecozuivel to Belgian family company Inex.
• Jumbo SupermarktencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 April 2019Jumbo introduced 1 star Beter Leven dairy in 2019 as the first supermarket chain to do so. They work with twenty dairy farmers through Farmel supplying milk meeting Beter Leven criteria. Jumbo doubled the assortment in 2022. Farmers receive 4.5 cents extra per kilo above the weidegang premium.
• InexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian family company that acquired Vecozuivel from Farmel in September 2024, subject to ACM approval. The acquisition is a strategic step that stems from shared vision to create added value in the Dutch dairy landscape.
• Gebr. DunninkcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAll transport is organized and carried out by transport company Gebr. Dunnink in Nieuwleusen. This is a certified transport company with a large fleet of milk tankers collecting raw milk from Farmel's farmers. Long-standing successful collaboration enables efficient and sustainable transport from farmers to processors.
• QlipminorOthersQlip's independent dairy laboratory performs analysis on milk samples drawn when milk is collected from dairy farmers. This provides quality assurance for Farmel's milk supply.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Glanbia plc: Glanbia is an Irish-headquartered global nutrition and dairy group combining farmer supply with ingredients and consumer brands. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating dairy ingredient trading and farmer-supply models alongside branded dairy products, with similar international customer overlap.
• DMK Group: DMK is one of Germany's largest dairy cooperatives, sourcing raw milk from German and Dutch farmers and producing dairy ingredients and consumer products. Comparable as a Northern European dairy incumbent operating in raw milk procurement and dairy trade.
• Arla Foods: Arla Foods is a large European dairy cooperative (Denmark/Sweden) operating across raw milk procurement, processing, and branded dairy products. Comparable as a broad incumbent in European raw milk sourcing and dairy trade with overlapping customer base among European and global dairy buyers.
• FrieslandCampina: FrieslandCampina is the largest Dutch dairy cooperative, owning farmer supply and processing milk into consumer and B2B products. Comparable as the dominant Dutch dairy incumbent whose farmer relationships and processing footprint overlap with Farmel's supplier and customer base.
• Lactalis: Lactalis is the world's largest dairy company by revenue, a French-based multinational spanning raw milk sourcing, processing, and branded dairy products. Comparable as a global incumbent trading and processing dairy at scale that competes for similar end customers as Farmel.

Direct peers

• Hoogwegt Group: Hoogwegt is a Dutch family-owned dairy trader and ingredient supplier that operates a similar asset-light intermediary model trading dairy commodities (milk powders, whey, lactose, cheese) globally. Most directly comparable peer to Farmel because both are pure-play Dutch dairy trading/intermediation businesses without primary farm ownership.
• Ausnutria Dairy Group: Ausnutria is a Dutch dairy company based in Heerenveen that owns 50% of Farmel and is simultaneously one of Farmel's most important customers. Recently partially acquired by Chinese dairy giant Yili, it is a vertically integrated specialty dairy (infant formula) player and direct strategic peer.
• Vreugdenhil Dairy Foods: Vreugdenhil is a Dutch processor of dairy ingredients and milk powders that buys raw milk and trades dairy commodities. Highly comparable as a Dutch dairy processor/trader operating in similar commodity streams (milk powder, dairy ingredients).
• Interfood Group: Interfood is a Dutch-headquartered dairy trading and ingredients company sourcing and distributing dairy commodities globally to processors and end users. Comparable to Farmel as another pure-play Benelux dairy trading intermediary without primary production.
• Royal A-ware: Royal A-ware is a Dutch dairy processor and cheese manufacturer that sources raw milk from farmers and supplies retail and foodservice customers. Comparable to Farmel because it operates at the same intersection of farmer relationships and processor customers in the Dutch dairy value chain.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/farmelnl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/farmel-dairy-business

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Farmel