ÖMA
Organic
Dairies Allgäu

Through long-term partnerships with ÖMA’s production facilities and their milk suppliers, and by supporting small-scale farming, artisan organic cheese dairies and organic alpine dairies, ÖMA aims to preserve and promote the greatest possible diversity in terms of the cultural landscape, agriculture and craftsmanship in the Allgäu.
Our core tasks include consolidating the organic cheese specialities from our partner dairies, slicing, grating and packaging products to individual specifications for retail and bulk customers, order fulfilment, ensuring products are labelled in accordance with the law, quality assurance; developing new products in collaboration with partner dairies, communicating and establishing the ÖMA brand to boost sales, and, last but not least, the most important aspect of all: ‘getting the cheese to the people’ – in other words, all aspects of sales.

People have always felt a special connection to the idyllic, rolling hills of the Allgäu, between the Lech and Lake Constance. No wonder: the team at ÖMA live and work where others go on holiday. As the Allgäu has been a ‘cheese-making region’ for over 150 years and has been shaped by the dairy industry, there is a wealth of craftsmanship and experience in cheese production here. This tradition is reflected in many of ÖMA’s specialities, such as Allgäuer Emmentaler or Allgäuer Bergkäse, which bear the g.U. (Protected Designation of Origin) quality seal. Then as now, the people of the Allgäuer region are steadfast in their commitment to producer prices that are economically and environmentally sound and secure the future, and they continue to enrich dining tables with a wealth of cheese delicacies of the highest organic quality.

For Ökologische Molkereien Allgäu, organic is not merely a legally regulated standard, but a philosophy put into practice and a genuine core competence. As a long-established brand in the natural foods sector, these cheese specialities are available exclusively under the ÖMA brand in specialist organic shops – that is, in organic shops, organic supermarkets and health food shops. They began by marketing Germany’s first organic hard cheese, the ÖMA Rösslerhof Emmentaler. Over the years, the range has been expanded to include both national and international products from neighbouring Alpine countries and today offers the whole world of cheese in the finest organic quality, with over 250 varieties made from cow’s, sheep’s, goat’s and buffalo’s milk, the whole world of cheese in the finest organic quality—a commitment embodied by the ‘Ö’ in ÖMA. At the heart of the range are regional specialities made from milk certified by organic associations, sourced from Allgäuer farmers and Bavarian milk suppliers. Our cheesemakers transform fresh organic milk without unnecessary additives, using only milk, salt, rennet and cheese cultures. The range extends from cream cheese and soft cheeses to hard cheese, desserts and various dairy products.

In addition to specialist retailers in Germany, ÖMA also supplies trade partners in other European countries. The French branch is located in the tranquil southern French village of La Cavalerie, near Millau, from where customers in France, Spain and the Benelux countries are served.
In addition to its wide selection of organic cheese treasures, ÖMA has also been offering a comprehensive range of cheese-related services since the late 1990s, focusing on knowledge transfer for specialist retailers. There are various seminar formats tailored to the needs of the approximately 1,000 seminar participants each year. Alongside in-depth theory, the sessions build practical skills such as cutting and packaging techniques, and bring the world of cheese to life through visits to cheese dairies and farms.

Our philosophy of ecological consistency encompasses not only the organic production of cheese specialities but also sustainable practices, social responsibility and a commitment to societal values. This commitment is reflected in fair, future-proof producer prices, renewable energy sourcing, responsible product development, sustainable packaging, transparent supply chains, respectful staff policies and active opposition to green genetic engineering.

Our commitment to quality knows no compromises, ensuring that the philosophy of our certified organic dairy partners aligns seamlessly with our own standards. Over the years, this has fostered a partnership that is evident to all cheese lovers at any well-stocked specialist cheese counter and which ultimately benefits all customers committed to sustainable enjoyment. “Enjoyment does not come solely from consuming a food product that is technically and flavour-wise flawless,” says Michael Welte (Managing Director of ÖMA), “but for us, enjoyment stems from the combination of the values and stories behind the products and the people involved. In our range, values such as a connection to one’s homeland and tradition, responsibility, credibility and conviction are reflected in the cheese delicacies, which is why the cheese is more than just ‘tasty’.”