The Annual General Meeting of OGA NORDBADEN eG for the 2023 financial year, which took place rather late this year, was marked by a pleasing review of the year, turbulent times and impending changes. With a marketed volume of 13,800 tons of fruit and vegetables (+8 percent) and a turnover of 43.9 million euros [46.6 USD] (+18 percent), the cooperative has weathered the year 2023 well despite numerous difficulties and achieved one of the best results in recent years. This will enable a goods reimbursement to members and a refund of the "energy levy" that was first introduced in 2023. Together with the affiliated sales organization OGV NORDBADEN EG, a total turnover of 92.8 million euros [98.6 USD] was achieved in the 2023 financial year.
This pleasing development was made possible by largely normal weather and seasonal conditions and, in some cases, higher prices. The main products in the range are asparagus, strawberries and other soft fruit, sweetcorn, plums and a wide range of horticultural vegetables. The products are marketed by the OGV sales organization to the entire German food retail industry, the fruit and vegetable trade and to customers in neighboring countries.
"The production of fruits and vegetables is subject to increasingly difficult conditions. A partially ideologically influenced policy with excessive requirements and conditions, revenues that no longer cover costs, as well as massive distortion of competition with foreign products are increasingly endangering the cultivation of special crops in Germany," said Executive Director Hans Lehar in his annual report. For this reason, acreage is being reduced nationwide and plant closures are being recorded. The OGA is also affected by this development, which will become noticeable in the coming years and will require a new strategic orientation.
The new management team of OGA / OGV NORDBADEN EG from left to right: the new chairwoman Dr. Carina Bletscher, the long-standing managing director Hans Lehar, the new managing director of sales Falk Schlusnus, the former chairman Bodo Mönich and the chairman of the supervisory board Andreas Hoffmann.
Expansion of the producer structure and expansion of the trading business
The company's objective is to stabilize and expand its production structure, as well as to expand its trading business, particularly after its own German season and during the winter months. For this purpose, there has been a cooperation for several years with the French PRIMLAND Group, a cooperative association with kiwi production, for which a service is provided of processing NERGI kiwiberries for the German market. In addition, further projects are planned in the areas of goods procurement and capacity utilization in the winter months.
With the support of an external consulting firm and the participation of members and managers in workshops, they are involved in the change process. Activities and measures in the area of climate protection and sustainability have been successfully implemented. Due to the modern new building, environmentally friendly technology and existing photovoltaic systems, the company received an award in 2023 and 2024 in the EcoVadis sustainability assessment. New investments in the energy infrastructure at the company's sites in Bruchsal and Heidelberg are planned and will help the company to move forward.
In response to these new challenges and the upcoming generational change in the company, OGA / OGV NORDBADEN eG is expanding its management team as of January 1, 2025. Falk Schlusnus, a 42-year-old business graduate, has been recruited to fill the newly created position of Managing Director Sales. He not only has extensive commercial experience as a former member of the LIDL management board, but has also been closely involved in the fruit and vegetable industry for many years. Most recently, he was managing director of the Dutch BayWa Global Produce subsidiary TFC Holland B.V., an international company for exotic fruit and vegetables with its own and contract farming overseas. During a transitional phase, he will support Hans Lehar, who has been a member of the management board for many years. Mr. Lehar, who was previously the sole managing director, will focus on commercial management until he leaves the company and will be available to ensure a smooth handover.
A generational change is also taking place in the administrative bodies. Long-standing members of the Board of Executive Directors and Supervisory Board, Bodo Mönich from Griesheim, Winfried Krämer from Schriesheim and Bruno Kallen from Korschenbroich, have retired from their posts for age-related reasons and due to operational changes. Dr. Carina Bletscher from Karlsruhe was elected as a new member of the Board of Executive Directors. Caroline Zürker from Dudenhofen, Patrick Meinhardt from Weiterstadt and Wilhelm Beckmann from Kirchhellen were elected to the Supervisory Board.
For more information:
http://www.oga-bruchsal.de/