“When you think of the future, you should not lose sight of the origins.”

1881

Josef Anton I marries Maria Danner in Grafing parish church, and leases a cheese-dairy in Felling near Edling. Due to the lack of transport, he is soon running seven more cheese-dairies in the vicinity. The hard work begins at two in the morning and goes on until late at night. The couple’s first daughter, Maria Meggle, is born in late 1882.

1890

In the 1890s, six nearby cheese-dairies are sold to ‘Käseburschen’ (young cheese-makers) – with the proviso they carry on supplying Reitmehring with cheese.

1902 - 1906

In 1902, Josef Anton Meggle I acquires the Weber farm, but it is almost totally destroyed in 1906 by a fire caused by lightning. To finance the reconstruction, they go “begging for fire-tax” in the municipality.

1912 - 1913

Josef Anton Meggle I dies suddenly in 1912 at the age of 55, just as he is taking the cattle to pasture. His family moans: “All father left us when he died was a pile of debts.”

Josef Anton Meggle II, who actually wanted to become an electrical engineer, joins the firm in 1913, having passed the cheese-maker apprenticeship exam. His credo: Only with the very best quality can you survive in the market.

1920

“Whenever I took the initiative and was convinced something had to come of it, nothing would ever dissuade me.”

Josef Anton Meggle II begins systematically expanding the electricity supply. He has power lines laid to Reitmehring with the aim of supplying the whole of the locality. The water-pumps and centrifuges are then able to be operated electrically. Despite a lot of opposition, scorn and derision, he builds his own power station and supplies the municipality with electricity from then on.

1930 - 1931

In April 1930, Josef Anton Meggle II marries the bookkeeper, Anna Wunderlich. Their only joint son, Josef Anton Meggle III – named Toni – is born on 12 May 1931. He is the current owner of the company.

The firm continues to grow steadily in the 30s. MEGGLE merges its Munich operations into “Milchverwertungsgesellschaft Bayrische Landwirte”, the largest and most modern dairy in Munich.

1937

1945 – 1948

From 1945 to 1948, basic foods can be acquired only with food stamps. The exception to this regulation is whey – previously a waste product for fattening pigs. Josef Anton II procures plants to produce baker’s yeast, lactose and spreads from whey. These products are, of course, no culinary revelations and only to be sold in times of emergency to cover costs. A works council is set up in 1946 on a voluntary basis. Trustees run the company for a few years, causing a great deal of damage. Franz Bosch becomes factory manager.

1950

MEGGLE invests heavily during the post-war years of the German economic miracle: a new milk depot is built in 1954, a new creamery in 1956. 1958 sees the addition of a boiler for the power station, as well as the first cogeneration system to produce electricity and steam.

1956

After completing his schooling, Toni Meggle first trains to become a dairy master craftsman. After that, he acquires extensive knowledge of business management on the Industrial Business Management course at the Management Center Europe (MCE) in Brussels and, in 1956, after his specialist training, starts working in the family business.

1960

On 1 January 1960, Toni Meggle becomes a partner along with his father. In the same year, the first moulding plant for butter portions is commissioned. MEGGLE assumes dominance in several markets and conquers new production areas. For the first time, the company achieves a turnover of 100 million marks. At the same time, a company pension scheme is introduced for employees on Toni Meggle’s initiative. His father donates building ground and bells for the St. Anton church in Reitmehring. The St. Antonius housing development for employees is also founded.

1970

MEGGLE establishes herb butter. The Market Information (later Marketing) department is set up in 1972 to serve the market in a demand-led way. The cheese dairy becomes an export-oriented company.

Toni Meggle becomes sole Managing Director in 1973. This is accompanied by a change in management style: from patriarchal to co-operative management. Seminars are held with managers and morning meetings are introduced.

1980

A new storage building and tank storage facility are built. The company now has a workforce of 820 men and women and its own rail connection. Toni Meggle introduces modern IBM systems at MEGGLE. The on-site waste treatment plant is commissioned in 1981.

1990

Eastern Europe opens up and MEGGLE is the first Western dairy company to set up a sales office in Slovakia. MEGGLE also opens up a new line of business with excipients for the food industry. Toni Meggle (Josef Anton III) has turned a national dairy company into a globally operating brand.

1996 - 1998

The MEGGLE Herb Butter Baguette exceeds all expectations with sales of 25 million a year. The first yoghurt butter rolls off the production line. 1996 sees the legendary TV commercial with Marilyn Monroe. She confesses: “I’m a Gourmeggle.” From a classic no-name product like butter, Toni Meggle has created a branded product.

2002

MEGGLE is restructured again in 2002. MEGGLE AG is now an umbrella management and financial holding company owned by Toni Meggle. At the same time, Toni Meggle retires from the operational side and has chaired the Board of Directors ever since.

 2006

MEGGLE now has 1,591 employees and is turning over 560 million euros. On his 75^th birthday, Toni Meggle is made a freeman of the town of Wasserburg and receives the Bavarian Order of Merit from Prime Minister Edmund Stoiber. In the same year, MEGGLE wins the MOE Award for its commitment to Central and Eastern Europe. In addition, MEGGLE takes over the dairy in Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2006. In 2009, another production site follows in Bulgaria: Shumen.

In 2009, the first MEGGLE Baguettes run off the production line at M-Back – a newly built bakery in Gebesee, Thuringia. MEGGLE is the majority shareholder in the company with 66% of the shares.

2012

For 125 years Meggle has been not just a name, but also a symbol interlinking tradition and progress, continuity and constant change. The new reception building opens its doors bang on time for the anniversary. The centuries old Weber farm – the nucleus of today’s company – is relocated within the company premises and from then on houses an exhibition on the history of the firm. Henceforth, the MEGGLE Young Entrepreneur Prize is awarded every year to encourage SME young entrepreneurs in the Wasserburg region. Helene Fischer becomes brand ambassador, advertising MEGGLE Herb Butter and Baguettes in TV commercials. Last but not least, MEGGLE opens another sales office in Brazil in the anniversary year.

2014

The stone oven starts up at M-Back in Gebesee. From now on, the new MEGGLE Stone Oven Ciabatta with a Mediterranean butter and tomato filling is to be made here. MEGGLE’s entire Baguette range receives the “TOP Brand 2014” award. After taking two years to build, the Cheese Expertise Centre of Salzburg Milch, of which MEGGLE is the majority shareholder, opens in Lamprechtshausen in eastern Austria.

2019

The sole owner of MEGGLE AG, Toni Meggle, has contributed his shares to a foundation. This was announced by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board during an extraordinary employee meeting. This ensures the continued existence and independence of the MEGGLE Group, since a foundation is designed for eternity and belongs to itself. "In the charter of the foundation, I have explicitly and irrevocably defined that the company may not be sold. This ensures that the MEGGLE Group will remain a medium-sized company and the jobs will be maintained”, said Toni Meggle to the employees.

2021

After the complete acquisition of M-Back GmbH last year, MEGGLE takes over another company. In May, Stegmann Emmentaler Käsereien GmbH becomes part of the Group. With further investments in Wasserburg am Inn the location is strengthened in the long term.

A special anniversary was on the agenda on 12 May. Toni Meggle turned 90 years old.