They were pioneers, and at that time most people thought that their idea was simply a rash and risky experiment. However, Mr. Pedersen liked the idea – and since then business has gradually improved.

The seven farmers established production and sale of products, which at that time were completely new on the market – i.e. ecological milk, butter, and cheese. It contradicted the general development completely; around the year 1900 there were approx. 1500 cooperative dairies in Denmark, but as the 20th century progressed the structural development of the industry demanded that most dairies had to close down leaving only a few left in the end. The old Thise Dairy was, however, not a cooperative dairy, but a privately owned dairy, and that might explain why the seven farmers and P.E. Pedersen came together in such a collaboration. “Old Pedersen” died in 1997, but his son Poul Pedersen and his partner Erik Ellebæk followed in his footsteps.

A difficult start

Both Pedersen and the farmers did indeed realize that starting from scratch is always difficult. It proved to be more difficult than usual to sell ecological milk. Firstly, it was more expensive, and secondly grocers, bakers, and supermarket chains were tied to deals that they had already made with the big milk producers on the Danish market.

But the dream of an independent, ecological alternative to the big companies was strong enough to withstand the hardships. Thise Dairy still exists and is doing well, and even though it is still a small dairy it has gone trough a great development since the beginning. Today, the dairy is owned by 64 farmers, and there are 25 other ecological milk producers waiting to be partners of the company. When the dairy is at maximum capacity, it produces 600.000 cartons of dairy products every week – and to this should be added a significant production of ecological cheese.