Lantmännen as a Cooperative Enterprise

Swedish agriculture has a long tradition of cooperative collaboration. The first farmers' unions were established in the second half of the 1800s - the first one in Skaraborg County in 1880.

The main aims of the early cooperatives were to improve quality control, reduce purchase prices and transport costs and facilitate the exchange of experience between farmers.

To start with, local associations were formed, but the need to establish larger trading partners soon became apparent, and the next step was often to form regional associations at county level.

>> Read more about Lantmännen and our business today.

A cooperative organisation

Characteristic of a cooperative company is democratic control, fair distribution of profit and equal financial investment from members. To start a cooperative as an economic association requires a minimum of three entities (individuals and/or enterprises), common rules on membership and governance (statutes) and payment of the agreed contribution. The economic association is then registered with the Swedish Patent and Registration Office (PRV), making it a legal entity.

Lantmännen is a producers’ cooperative. This collective name refers to producers of goods or services collaborating in marketing, distribution, sale, processing and purchase of materials & equipment.