Milk suppliers from the Łódź Voivodeship recently learned that Mleczarnia Turek will not extend their contracts and they must look for a new customer. The company’s decision was an unpleasant surprise for farmers and many cannot come to terms with this decision.
Farmers from the Łódź region express their outrage about the situation in telephone calls and e-mails to our editorial office. They also expressed their emotions at the General Meeting of Members of the Association of Milk Producers and Suppliers “Mlektur”, which took place last Tuesday (March 5) in Kaczkach Średnie near Turkiem.
As we learned there, Mleczarnia Turek has canceled deliveries from approximately 160 farms in the Łódź Voivodeship. They include owners of both small herds and large barns with cows subject to performance assessment.
Farmers feel sorry
“Milk suppliers are disgusted with the situation. Farmers are looking for new customers because Turek rejected the Łódź Voivodeship. The “Mlektur” Association, for which money is collected every month, has done nothing for milk suppliers. We have been giving away money for many years, but we have no help.” – complains in a letter to the editors of a farmer from Łódź (name for the information of the editor), the owner of a herd of 60 milking cows.
Other suppliers from the Łódź region with whom Mleczarnia Turek is terminating cooperation spoke in a similar tone at the General Meeting. They complained that they were presented with a fait accompli, without the right to vote and support.
-Suppliers were broken up and divided into those from Greater Poland and those from Łódź. The dairy’s arguments about cutting transport costs and carbon footprint do not convince anyone, said the supplier from Łódź at the meeting.
-At the meeting in Uniejów, we were promised help in finding new recipients, but we have no help, there was no meeting. You are getting rid of us and leaving us to our fate, said another milk producer.
Another alleged that the fate of Łódź suppliers was determined only by administrative borders, because the distances from farms in Greater Poland to the dairy in Turek also vary. In his opinion, the company should also provide advance notice of its intentions. Farmers also regret that the “Mlektur” association representing them did not sufficiently fight for the interests of suppliers from the Łódź region and inform them about the development of the situation. As a sign of protest, farmers from the Łódź region left the General Meeting in Kaczki Średnie on Tuesday.
The company explains the decision
We asked Mleczarnia Turek to comment on the situation and explain the reasons for resigning from Łódź milk suppliers. Here is the company’s response:
“Mleczarnia Turek and Sery ICC Pasłęk are members of the same group and for 20 years, a large part of the dairy zone in Turek has been meeting the raw material needs of ICC Pasłęk. Due to the change in the strategy of ICC Pasłęk, this part of the raw material will no longer be needed – therefore Mleczarnia Turek must reduce the milk zone by 25% – 30% by the end of 2024. The main criterion deciding not to sign new contracts with milk producers was the distance from the plant in Turku (Wielkopolskie Voivodeship), therefore cooperation will be ended with some suppliers from the province. Łódź, who are located further away from our plant.
In a difficult moment
The company also has nothing to complain about in terms of communication with contractors and making decisions that are unpleasant for them.
“Respecting our long-term cooperation, we provided this information to our suppliers thirteen months (December 2023) before the termination of cooperation, respecting all the provisions of our contract, giving enough time to find a new partner. Additionally, we have committed to supporting our suppliers in finding a new recipient of milk by exchanging contacts with companies that are interested in obtaining additional quantities of milk, and we are also flexible in the event of shortening the notice period.” – convinces Mleczarnia Turek.
“For many years, Mleczarnia Turek has been striving for the best possible relations with all milk suppliers, offering them the highest standards of cooperation and a fair and transparent contract. This is undoubtedly a difficult moment for some of our milk suppliers, to whom we are grateful for their cooperation. We are deeply convinced that the way we operate in the current situation is the best possible in the current reality and provides great opportunities for our milk suppliers to find a new dairy.” – we read in the submitted comment.
According to the association
-Mleczarnia Turek is not a cooperative, but a private company. As such, it has the right to decide how much milk it buys and from where, regardless of our objections and opinions – says the president of the Association of Milk Producers and Suppliers “Mlektur”, Karol Dewicki.
-We learned about the intention to resign from Łódź suppliers at the last minute, when the negotiations on new contracts had already been practically completed. And it was not a proposal put up for discussion, says the president.
-We put pressure on the company’s authorities and did everything to dissuade them from this decision. The problem is that the attendance at the meetings convened in Łódź was pitiful. Perhaps the power of our persuasion would be greater if the suppliers affected by the problem supported us more, regrets Dewicki. -So I think accusing us now of inaction is unfair and unjustified.
The supplier’s dilemma
-Unfortunately, the situation in which our colleagues from the Łódź region find themselves gives food for thought, both to other farmers who send them to the dairy in Turku, and to all farmers producing milk in the country – says the head of “Mlektur”. -Every farmer must now think about whether flexibility or strong guarantees of raw material receipt are more important to him in contracts with dairies.
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