What Mejeriforeningen does

Mejeriforeningen (Danish Dairy Association) is a membership-based trade association founded in 1882 that serves as the central knowledge and advocacy organization for the Danish dairy industry. It operates as a sector under Landbrug & Fødevarer (Danish Agriculture & Food), headquartered in Aarhus N. Its members include Arla Foods, private dairies (e.g., Aabybro Mejeri, Mammen Mejerierne, Thise Mejeri, Lindved Mejeri), and organic dairy producers, alongside affiliated organizations such as Foreningen Danmarks Privatmejerier and Dansk Oste- og Smørforening. Private dairies account for 8.2% of Danish milk intake and 8.0% of cheese production (472 million kg milk, 42 million kg cheese in 2025), while the broader sector it represents is dominated by Arla.

The organization delivers a portfolio of member services, industry events, consumer programs, and research funding. Core technology platforms include PLInet (product legislation and regulatory compliance system), Mejeribrugets Klimatjek (farm-level climate accounting tool), MAIS (milk settlement system), and Kvalitetsprogrammet Gården (farm quality assurance). Industry-facing events include the annual Gourmetprisen culinary competition (43-71 product entries annually) and the International Food Contest in Herning. Consumer-facing initiatives include the Skolemælksordningen (School Milk Scheme serving approximately 70,000 children at 1,300 schools), the Dansk Mælk-mærket trademark, and the Økodag annual open-farm event (125,000 visitors in 2026). Research is funded through Mejeribrugets ForskningsFond.

As a non-profit trade association, Mejeriforeningen does not sell products directly. Revenue is generated through membership fees from dairy companies and four industry funds (Mælkeafgiftsfonden, Mejerirationaliseringsfonden, Mejeribrugets Jubilæumsfond, and Mejeribrugets ForskningsFond). Financial figures are not publicly disclosed. Its business model is fundamentally a collective-good advocacy and coordination function, providing regulatory representation, technical guidance, market statistics, sustainability measurement, and consumer education to the Danish dairy value chain.

Name

Mejeriforeningen

Legal name

Mejeriforeningen

Website

https://mejeri.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1882

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mejeriforeningen is a Danish trade association founded in 1882 that serves as the central knowledge and advocacy body for Danish dairy companies, providing regulatory representation, member services, industry events, and consumer education programs under Landbrug & Fødevarer.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dairy Industry Trade Association

NAICS

Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115), Dairy Product (except Frozen) Manufacturing (31151)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Milking Parlor & Dairy Farm Support Services (Non-veterinary) (AFAEALAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAB), Butter, Cream & Dairy Fats (CRADACAD)

Keywords

• Dairy trade association
• Industry representation services
• Dairy research funding
• Legislative compliance guidance
• Dairy statistics services

Headquarters

HQ city

Aarhus

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Mejeriforeningen is a knowledge-based trade association for Danish dairies, founded in 1882, that provides industry representation, political advocacy, technical and legislative guidance (PLInet), climate accounting tools (Klimatjek), quality assurance programs, market statistics (Mejeristatistik), dairy settlement systems (MAIS), research funding (Mejeribrugets ForskningsFond), and consumer-facing initiatives including the Skolemælksordningen school milk scheme and the Dansk Mælk-mærket certification label. The organization serves as the unified voice of Danish dairy in regulatory, sustainability, health communication, and export market development matters.

Product overview

Mejeriforeningen (Danish Dairy Association) is a trade organization representing Danish dairies. It operates a portfolio of services including member support programs (PLInet for product legislation, Klimatjek for climate accounting, MAIS for milk settlement), industry events (Gourmetprisen, Økodag, International Food Contest), consumer-facing initiatives (Skolemælksordningen, Dansk Mælk-mærket), and research funding through Mejeribrugets ForskningsFond. The organization also publishes Mejeristatistik and maintains Mejerishoppen for branded merchandise. The portfolio functions as an integrated industry support ecosystem rather than a unified software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Skolemælksordningen (School Milk Program) A program delivering fresh milk daily to approximately 70,000 children at about 1,300 Danish schools, with educational activities for pupils, parents, and teachers promoting healthy eating habits.
• PLInet - Product Legislation Information System A member service providing product legislation updates, news, guidance on food safety, additives, labeling, product standards, and regulatory compliance for dairy businesses.
• Mejeribrugets Klimatjek (Dairy Climate Check) A climate assessment and accounting tool for dairy farms to track and improve their environmental performance.
• Mejeribrugets ForskningsFond (Dairy Research Foundation) A foundation funding research in technology, food safety and microbiology, health and nutrition, and food innovation for the Danish dairy sector.
• Dansk Mælk-mærket (Danish Milk Label) A certification mark identifying dairy products made from Danish milk and processed in Danish dairies, helping consumers identify domestic dairy products.
• Mejeriernes Afregningssystem MAIS (Dairy Settlement System) A dairy settlement system used by member dairies for milk pricing and settlement calculations.
• Mejeristatistik (Dairy Statistics Service) Statistical data on Danish dairy production, export, consumption, and industry figures for member access.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7 out of 10 girls aged 11-17 do not get sufficient calcium from their diet according to DTU nutrition studies

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Landbrug & Fødevarer (L&F)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMejeriforeningen is integrated with Landbrug & Fødevarer's Sector for Dairy, providing unified industry representation. Contact: L&F +45 3339 4000. Mejeriforeningen shares offices and coordinates advocacy efforts with L&F.
• IDF (International Dairy Federation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal dairy industry organization representing 75 member countries covering 75% of world milk production. IDF hosts World Dairy Summit annually and develops international standards.
• EDA (European Dairy Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean dairy industry association representing European dairy manufacturers and coordinating EU-level policy positions.
• Codex AlimentariusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational food standards body joint FAO/WHO commission. Mejeriforeningen participates in Codex Alimentarius discussions for dairy standards.
• Foreningen Danmarks PrivatmejeriercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation representing private Danish dairy companies. Includes Aabybro Mejeri, Mammen Mejerierne, Nørup Mejeri, Lindved Mejeri, Thise Mejeri, and others. Peter Staunsbæk (Mammen) is current chairman.
• Dansk Oste- og SmørforeningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish Cheese and Butter Association focused on protecting and promoting Danish cheese and butter production, including BGB and BOB protected designations.
• Økologisk Landbrug (Organic Farming Foundation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerØkodag collaboration with Fonden for Økologisk Landbrug and Mælkeafgiftsfonden supporting annual organic farm open day events.
• DTU FødevareinstituttetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical University of Denmark Food Institute provides research collaboration on nutrition, health, and dietary habits. Jointly publishes research on dairy consumption patterns and health outcomes.
• Styrelsen for Fødevarer, Landbrug og FiskericoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish Veterinary and Food Administration provides regulatory framework and collaborated on Kostråd til Måltider guidelines for daycare institutions.
• Mejeribrugets ForskningsFondcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch foundation funding dairy industry research in technology, food safety, health & nutrition, and food innovation. Grants research projects and publishes final reports.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Arla Foods: Largest member dairy of Mejeriforeningen and a Danish/Swedish cooperative. Not a peer in the trade-association sense, but a major stakeholder — the impending Arla-DMK-DOC merger (19.4 billion kg annual milk pool) makes Arla the single most consequential counterparty in Mejeriforeningen's ecosystem.
• TINE SA: Norwegian dairy cooperative and the dominant national player in a structurally similar Scandinavian dairy market. Comparable as a member of the Nordic dairy ecosystem that Mejeriforeningen coordinates around, and a likely beneficiary of the same Arla consolidation dynamics.

Direct peers

• NZO (Nederlandse Zuivel Organisatie): Dutch dairy trade association representing Netherlands-based dairy companies. Comparable membership-funded trade body serving a similarly export-oriented, consolidated national dairy industry adjacent to Denmark's main competitive set.
• Landbrug & Fødevarer: Parent/sister trade association for the broader Danish agriculture and food sector. Directly comparable as a membership organization providing policy advocacy, research coordination, and member services — Mejeriforeningen operates as a sector under L&F.
• CNIEL (Centre National Interprofessionnel de l'Économie Laitière): French dairy inter-branch organization representing the entire French dairy value chain from farmers to processors. Comparable in scope, function, and inter-branch governance structure — the closest European analogue to Mejeriforeningen's whole-industry coordination role.
• Dairy UK: UK national dairy trade association providing advocacy, market intelligence, and member services to British dairy processors and farmers. Closely comparable business model (membership-funded industry body) serving a national dairy constituency in a mature, consolidated market.

Broad incumbents

• EDA (European Dairy Association): European-level dairy industry association coordinating EU policy positions for dairy manufacturers. Directly comparable in membership-based advocacy function but with a regional rather than national scope, and one of Mejeriforeningen's stated core partners.
• IDF (International Dairy Federation): Global dairy industry organization covering 75% of world milk production across 75 member countries. Comparable as a membership-based industry body providing standards development, advocacy, and research coordination, but operating at global rather than national scale.

Regional players

• Dairy Australia: Australian dairy industry body funded by farmer levies, providing R&D, marketing, and policy advocacy. Comparable funding model (statutory levy on milk production) and service portfolio, but operating in a different geography focused on a largely export-oriented dairy economy.
• Lantbrukarnas Riksförbund Mjölk (LRF Mjölk): Swedish dairy division within the Federation of Swedish Farmers, representing Swedish dairy producers. Comparable in structure as a sector body within a broader farmers' federation (similar to Mejeriforeningen's relationship with Landbrug & Fødevarer), but focused on the Swedish market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mejeriforeningen-danish-dairy-board
• Xx.com/fremtidsmejeri

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries4 records

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 Mejeriforeningen