DORFSENNEREI Schlins-Röns und Umgebung eGen

DORFSENNEREI Schlins-Röns und Umgebung eGen is a small, farmer-owned dairy cooperative based in Schlins, in the Vorarlberg region of western Austria. It produces and matures cheese, above all Bergkäse (mountain cheese), from the milk of member farms in the surrounding area. The cooperative traces its origins to 1889, when farmers in Schlins joined forces to process milk into cheese and butter in order to earn a better return. In 1903 a formal cooperative was founded and entered in the commercial register at the regional court in Feldkirch. Over the following decades the Sennerei expanded, took in farmers from neighbouring Röns, and built a new dairy at its present site in 1928. For much of the 20th century the business was leased to outside dairy firms, notably Josef Rupp of Lochau, who bought milk from 1936 to 1992 and produced Emmentaler for export. In 1993 the cooperative members voted unanimously to run the operation themselves again, switched the production programme and specialised in Bergkäse, built up marketing and opened a farm shop. Since then the Sennerei has invested in modern cheese-making and ripening technology, including a new mountain-cheese ripening centre with a cheese robot in 2006 and an expansion of that centre in 2018, bringing total storage capacity to 10,000 wheels of Bergkäse. It also works with Vorarlberg Milch, producing additional Bergkäse from the milk of Arlberg alpine farms and silage-free farms. Today the Dorfsennerei sells its cheese through its own shop in Schlins and a 24-hour speciality vending machine, and it remains a cooperative owned by the farmers who supply its milk.

The history of the Dorfsennerei Schlins-Röns und Umgebung eGen reaches back to the late 19th century. In 1889 the farmers of Schlins joined together to process milk into cheese and butter in order to achieve a better return. On 21 November 1903 a cooperative was formally founded and entered in the commercial register at the regional court in Feldkirch; at that time butter was delivered to Vienna in so-called 'Dänenfässern' (Danish barrels). In 1928 the farmers of Röns joined the cooperative, and a new dairy was built at the present site, following a unanimous decision by 100 members. From 1 January 1936 to 31 December 1992 the firm Rupp Josef of Lochau was the milk buyer, and Emmentaler was produced for export. In 1993, with effect from 1 January, the cooperative owners decided unanimously to run the business on their own account. The production programme was changed and specialised in Bergkäse, marketing was built up, a sales shop was established and the cheese store was expanded. In 1997 the production rooms and technical equipment were completely renewed, with a closed cheese vat and a press tray for 16 wheels of about 30 kg each. In 2000 cooperation began with Vorarlberg Milch, producing an additional 100,000 kg of Bergkäse from the milk of Arlberg alpine farms and silage-free farms in the Vorarlberg Milch catchment area. In 2006 a new mountain-cheese ripening centre with a cheese robot was opened and put into operation. In 2018 an extension to the ripening centre was commissioned, bringing total storage capacity to 10,000 wheels of Bergkäse. Today the cooperative continues to operate its farm shop in Schlins and has added a 24-hour speciality vending machine for round-the-clock sales.

• 2018

  Extension of the ripening centre commissioned; total storage capacity reaches 10,000 wheels of Bergkäse.

• 2006

  New mountain-cheese ripening centre with cheese robot opened and put into operation.

• 2000

  Cooperation with Vorarlberg Milch begins; additional 100,000 kg of Bergkäse produced from Arlberg alpine and silage-free farms.

• 1997

  Complete renewal of production rooms and technical equipment with a closed cheese vat and a press tray for 16 wheels of about 30 kg each.

• 1993

  Cooperative owners unanimously decide to run the business independently; switch to Bergkäse specialisation, build marketing, open sales shop, expand cheese store.

• 1936

  Firm Rupp Josef of Lochau becomes milk buyer (until 1992); Emmentaler produced for export.

• 1928

  Farmers of Röns join; new dairy built at the present site following a unanimous decision by 100 members.

• 1903

  Cooperative founded and entered in the commercial register at the regional court in Feldkirch on 21 November; butter delivered to Vienna in 'Dänenfässern'.

• 1889

  Farmers of Schlins join together to process milk into cheese and butter for better returns.

Traditional, farmer-owned Alpine dairy cooperative focused on regional mountain cheese.

• Bergkäse

  The cooperative's flagship product, a firm Alpine mountain cheese, matured in its own ripening centre.

• Emmentaler

  Historically produced for export during the period when Rupp Josef of Lochau was the milk buyer (1936–1992).

• Butter

  One of the original products; in the early 20th century delivered to Vienna in 'Dänenfässern'.

1. 1Dorfsennerei Schlins – official websitedorfsennerei.at
2. 2Geschichte – Dorfsennerei Schlinsdorfsennerei.at
3. 3DORFSENNEREI Schlins-Röns und Umgebung eGen – Wikidatawikidata.org