Finding successful marketing concepts is a constant concern of direct marketers. One way to reach customers is the online farm shop Bauernbox by CeresAward finalist Annika Ahlers. But your project could soon face competition from the Westphalian-Lippian Agricultural Association.
Homemade potato salad, sausage made from German Angus beef and Arabian lentil soup: the customers of the farmer’s box get all this and much more.
The trained farmer Annika Ahlers from Münster designed the web farm shop for producers from the region and has now combined it into a cooperative: the Münsterländer Bauernbox eG. Customers can have an individual box put together from over 500 different items from 31 producers. The entrepreneur would like to offer the producers in her region a new sales branch. But now the 27-year-old, who made it to the finals of the CeresAward 2020 with her concept , is allegedly facing competition from the local farmers’ association. agrarheute reveals exclusively what is true of the rumor.
Annika, we heard that the Westfälisch-Lippische Landwirtschaftsverband (WLV) wants to set up a marketing platform similar to the Bauernbox. Do you know more about it
A lot is being hinted at at the moment and I have been asked about it from several quarters. However, I do not have any specific information so far, which is why I actively sought a discussion with the WLV.
Unfortunately, you haven’t had any success there yet. What do you think about?
The whole thing is not personal for me. I don’t have to be in the front row. Instead, I always wanted to build a new sales channel. It is simply important to me that we create a sensation in agriculture and bring more added value to the farms. If the WLV succeeds, I would therefore like to say congratulations. Still, I don’t think that’s okay. It doesn’t have to be that we compete with one another in the industry.
How are things going with the farmer’s box now?
First of all, we will continue to try to enter into an exchange with the WLV. In addition, we are involved in various collaborations in the elaboration of the further development of the Münsterländer Bauernbox eG. The aim here is to develop a sales concept for the region beyond food. We stay tuned and have a vision. We want to set up a direct distribution channel from farmers that ensures transparency in the food chain and fair value creation.
The cooperative principle
The idea of the cooperative: as a member, every farmer has equal rights of co-determination. The cooperative pursues a common goal: to promote the sale of regional products, with free pricing and without intermediaries. It supports farmers by offering services that they could only provide with great effort: an online shop, an inventory management system and a delivery system.
The system works like this: Each member makes a three-digit financial contribution when they join the cooperative. Together, the shares of the members make up the company’s equity. Private individuals can also join the cooperative with a contribution. It finances itself from its equity and ongoing business operations. If a customer buys a product via the farm shop, the farmer receives 80% of the turnover. The remaining 20% flow into the cooperative. For administration and storage, for example.
Annika Ahlers, founder and main initiator of the cooperative, outlined the aim of founding the cooperative. “We as farmers have to work out a solution to maintain and promote the diversity of the region. The numerous participation in the founding shows strength for change, “says the 26-year-old.
This is how the WLV reacts to the allegations of the farm shop
When asked by agrarheute, the Westphalian-Lippian Agricultural Association does not want to comment on the matter. Press spokesman Hans-Heinrich Berghorn simply says: “Getting more added value in the direction of the producers is a constant topic.” And that is independent of already existing marketing platforms.
