"Over the past 120 years, our cooperative of dairy farmers has become a leader in animal welfare, sustainability, and the tastiest cheese. You don't become and remain a leader on your own. You do it together. Because in this way we achieve more than each individual.
-Gerben van Diepen, chairman of the Board of Directors
Ownership of dairy farmers
CONO Kaasmakers is a cooperative founded in 1901 by a number of dairy farmers from North Holland. The unique thing about a cooperative is that all members have a say. It is an association with a business. Major and important decisions are voted on at a members' meeting.
Members
The more than 400 CONO dairy farmers are, as members, also owners of CONO Cheese Makers and jointly determine the course of their cooperative. Twice a year, the dairy farmers have a say in the policy during the General Members' Meeting. The General Members' Meeting elects a Board of Directors and a Supervisory Board from among its members.
Youth College
The Young People's College consists of twelve cattle farmers under the age of 35 and CONO's Manager of Cooperative Affairs & Dairy Farming. The Young People's College has a sounding board function towards the Board and Supervisory Board and is a breeding ground for young members with management talent.
Sounding board group Caring Dairy
The sounding board group consists of twelve CONO cattle farmers and CONO's sustainability manager. This committee monitors the development of the livestock farming policy and the sustainability programme at CONO. They have a sounding board function towards the executive board and supervisory board members.
Feeding Committee
The rations fed to CONO cows have a major influence on the health and welfare of the animals and on the taste of our cheese. The feed committee critically follows the quality of the feed and new developments in the field of cattle feed and their possible influence on the animal welfare and the taste of our cheese.