History
About BMi
We are Bayerische Milchindustrie eG, specialists in innovative ingredients and high-quality cheese products. We produce these for our global customers from milk and whey, with a preference for organic quality.
As a medium-sized company with Bavarian roots, we focus on quality and sustainability to create added value for our customers, employees, raw material partners, and the environment.
As a cooperative, we foster a collaborative partnership. Our primary focus is on our approximately 850 employees across five production facilities in Bavaria and Saxony-Anhalt, along with our central laboratory and administration.
1950s
9. September 1952:
Founding of Bayerische Milchindustrie eGmbH in Munich with the aim of utilizing increasing milk volumes, especially skim milk, for dry products.
1955:
Acquisition of Klötzlmühle in Landshut, expansion into a BMi production site.
1960s
1961:
Construction of the Peiting plant, at the time a 35 percent stake by BMi.
1964:
Commissioning of the casein plant in Landshut.
1965:
Opening of a new site in Zapfendorf for the regional utilization of skim milk.
1968:
Commissioning of the plant in Winzer an der Donau.
1970s
1971:
The start of milk exports to Italy brings significant changes to production at BMi; activities shift towards whey refinement.
1980s
1982:
Complete takeover of the long-life milk plant in Peiting.
1984:
Relocation of the administrative headquarters from Munich to Landshut.
1987:
Leasing of the first primary dairy to secure raw milk delivery in Marktredwitz.
1988:
Founding of BMU (Bayerische Milchunion) with 40% BMi participation for fresh product manufacturing in Nuremberg, Windsbach, and Ebermannstadt, primarily under the Paladin brand.
1990s
1991:
Acquisition of the Peri sales agency in Bolzano, initiating retail supply in Northern Italy under the Peri brand.
1992:
Leasing of the dry goods plant in Jessen, Saxony-Anhalt.
Start of organic production of partially demineralized whey powder in Winzer, pioneering for the baby food industry.
1994:
Relocation of fresh milk product and butter production from Nuremberg to Zapfendorf.
1995:
BMi acquires a 50% stake in Astrom Prague for whey concentrate supply, marking the beginning of its international involvement.
1998:
Takeover of business management for the Frankenmilch Verwertung eG cheese dairy in Langenfeld.
2000s
2001:
Acquisition of the cheese trading agency Scarlatti GmbH in Bern, leading to increased involvement in the Italian market.
Merger of BMU and BMi to form Bayerische Milchindustrie eG.
2002:
Leasing of the primary dairy in Tirschenreuth.
2003:
Acquisition of the Langenfeld cheese dairy.
2008:
Acquisition of Milchwerke Mainfranken eG, expanding the fresh products division into a major business segment at the Würzburg, Zapfendorf, Bad Kissingen, and Obermaßfeld locations.
2010s
2010:
Legal integration of Elsterland GmbH’s cheese dairy in Jessen into BMi eG.
Closure of the Tirschenreuth plant.
2011:
Appointment of an exclusively operational board of directors; honorary positions transition to the supervisory board.
Start of mozzarella ball production in Jessen.
Sale of shares in Astrom Prague in the Czech Republic.
2012:
Closure of casein production in Landshut.
Expansion of the Zapfendorf site enables the closure of the Bad Kissingen site.
Expansion of mozzarella production (ball and block) in Jessen.
2013:
MEG Mittelgebirgsbauern joins (first proprietary organic raw milk).
2014:
Extensive investments in whey-based ingredients: whey refining to WPC 80 and lactose in Jessen, and doubling demineralization capacities in Winzer.
2017:
“Qualitätsmilch Elbe-Saale” joins.
2018:
Establishment of a reusable glass line in Würzburg enables the closure of the Obermaßfeld site.
2019:
Commissioning of the new 35,000 t hard cheese dairy in Jessen, allowing the Jessen semi-hard cheese dairy and the old Langenfeld site to be replaced.
2020s
2021:
Entry of Milchwirtschaftliche Beteiligungs-AG Heilbronn.
2022:
Carve-out of Würzburger Milchwerke and sale of the fresh products business, including the Würzburg site, to Lactalis; the fresh products plant in Zapfendorf now produces exclusively for Würzburger Milchwerke GmbH.
2023:
Closure of Ebermannstadt site, start of reconstruction measures at the Winzer site for the expansion with a lactose line and wet-dry separation of the three towers.
Development of the BMi Strategy 2030.
2024:
Detailed planning and start of the Masterplan Ingredients (MPI) project for the modernization and new construction of the plant in Zapfendorf.
