Ella Kremer belongs to Severin. And Severin belongs to her. The 25-year-old grew up in and with the family-run business “Mecklenburger Landpute“, right there on the farm, so to speak. Her grandfather Arvid Kremer founded the company in 1990. “I had a close-up experience of how it all developed. I feel at home not just here on the farm. I’m really rooted in the region.” Being down-to-earth is just one of the traits of the local population that the business studies graduate has appropriated for her own life journey. And it was a major motivation for joining the company business. After finishing school – “a gap year abroad wasn’t my thing, I always wanted to be here“ – Ella Kremer did commercial training as a wholesale and foreign trade assistant. “It was a good training scheme, but I wanted more and went on to do a Bachelor’s degree.” She now feels well equipped to face the new challenges ahead of her, particularly when it comes to marketing and sales. “While I was studying, I always kept one foot in the company and continued to work here. Now the time has come to really put my foot down”, says the ambitious motor sports enthusiast, who even takes part in international rallies at the side of her father, CEO Armin Kremer, and is very successful.
Top priority for animal welfare
The young woman is a strong advocate of the company philosophy. “We offer a wide range of organic products and regional specialities. Our company sets great store by controlled breeding, in-house slaughtering, and in-house processing of organic chickens and organic turkeys in Mecklenburg and beyond the state border – all as part of a one-stop-shop concept.“ Her main wish to prioritise animal welfare was fulfilled when they converted to organic production in 2022. “Our family comes up with many arguments that justify this step. First and foremost, it’s a case of facilitating a healthy diet”, says Ella Kremer, describing their intention. “Livestock farming for the organic segment has to comply with strict regulations. We keep in close contact with the farmers, who in turn are inspected regularly by the corresponding associations and institutions.” For example, around 2,000 organic woodland turkeys are kept near Severin on 20,000 square metres of meadows and 7,500 square metres of woodland. Fresh air, appropriate freedom of movement and the best feed are the guarantees for high-quality meat.
According to Ella Kremer, animal welfare is not purely a question of ecological farming. “In my own family, we eat meat from animals that have been kept in the region under the best conditions, thus guaranteeing a high-quality, healthy and tasty product. When I know how the animals are kept, then I’m prepared to eat them too.” This is why she prefers their own organic poultry products, regional premium meat from organic Angus beef, game or Doruc pork. “You definitely won’t find cheap meat imports in my frying pan. In the end, good flavour is all about how long an animal was allowed to graze.”
Quality has its price
“Organic meat and individual organic products were already available before we made the radical change. Of course, taking this kind of step demands entrepreneurial courage, more money and stringent action. Our conviction gives us the strength we need. And also the feedback from our customers, who are quite definitely able to distinguish between top quality meat and cheap products”. The willingness to accept higher prices has grown over time. “It comes with an appreciation for the supply chain that is enhanced by so many ambitious people in the food industry who are passionate about what they do.”
Marketing organic products is difficult to calculate, and the firm in Severin took this into account, knowing that it would take a certain amount of time for consumer behaviour to settle down. In the meantime, they launched an online shop and attracted new customers on a broader scale with their tasty products. Such customers were found for example in North Rhine-Westphalia. Regular local customers are also convinced.
“We’re definitely satisfied with our customer base. Our five stores, the farm shop and the online business certainly keep us busy. On the other hand, sales at the farmers markets are on the decline.” Ella Kremer thinks that’s a shame. The online shop with its full range is currently compensating for some of the turnover. Special packaging and express shipments are part of the standard procedures to ensure the top quality products are delivered quickly and in fresh condition. The processed products are also subject to strict rules: flavour enhancers, preservatives, colourants, plasticisers or artificial flavourings are taboo. Natural products are refined with spices and herbs, the traditional way.
Assuming responsibility is not a question of age
Almost as soon as Ella Kremer joined the family company, she found herself dealing with a range of cares and concerns as part of her daily work. “Working with the farmers is made much harder by ongoing political decision-making processes, including deliberations about meat tax. At the moment we can’t see any guarantees that the producers will receive any of this additional income.” Higher charges are shaping discussions about the carbon footprint or the use of plastic materials. “To be quite serious, I really wonder where this is all going. Cost increases and dictated requirements mean that implementing our objectives and ideas is no longer realistic at the moment.”
The young entrepreneur tends to think outside the box. “Organic products offer a great possibility for more animal welfare and environmental protection. But current political developments cast doubt on whether this can all be done profitably in the end. For producers, processors and customers in equal measure.” And once more it begins with the farmers, who have to reconcile their vision of a perfect, ideal world with ensuring the survival of their own farms. Ella Kremer would like to see a greater awareness for food. A rethink would be good.
Although she’s still so young, she shows foresight and makes a case for a whole sector of the economy. Numerous farmers in the region supply valuable raw materials for top quality food products. Together they generate annual turnover of about five billion Euro in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Year by year, around 17,000 employees stand for continuous growth in the food industry. The main areas of production include baking, meat processing, milk processing, fish processing and beverage production. More than half of the state’s sector turnover is generated in Western Mecklenburg.
“We are able to present these companies in this way thanks to many years of experience and development.” Ella Kremer has seen for herself that it works. One important insight: “We need to send out the message that we’re acting out of conviction”.
Fit for the future with new ideas
This also applies to marketing organic Angus beef, game and Duroc pork. It was only in 2022 that the new cutting room was completed. The non-poultry products under their own label “Mecklenburger Premium” now account for a certain share of turnover. Whether private customers or restaurants, special requirements have to be met, including different cuts of meat, for example. “We’re still finding our way here. But that’s another thing that makes us stand out: we’re constantly developing new products, trying things out and naturally also tasting our own ideas”, says Ella Kremer.
The company in Severin has around 250 employees including eight trainees. It is difficult to find young talents and skilled workers – both in terms of trained butchers and qualified sales staff. As a result, Ella Kremer finds herself taking turns in the market stall when there’s a staff shortage. She cannot understand why young people aren’t interested in the butchery trade. “There’s so much going on here. We kept going even during the Covid pandemic. As a system-relevant company, we continued producing and selling. I’m proud to play a role in keeping food on the table for many people.”
