WIMEX Group

{{Infobox company | name = WIMEX Agrarprodukte Import und Export GmbH (WIMEX Group) | logo = Logo-WIMEX-Gruppe.png | type = | industry = Agribusiness, Meat industry | fate =m | predecessor = | successor = | founded = {{Start date and age|1985}}<ref name="history">{{Cite web |title=History of the Wimex Group |work=wimex-group.com |access-date=2023-02-02 |url= https://www.wimex-group.com/en/about-us/history/ |language=en}}</ref> | founder = Gerhard Wagner | defunct = | hq_location_city = Köthen | hq_location_country = Germany | area_served = Worldwide | key_people = Ulrich Wagner, Leopold Graf von Drechsel, Ralph Weickert<ref name="fiscal2021">Consolidated financial statement for the fiscal year beginning on 1 July 2020 and ending on 30 June 2021 of WIMEX Agrarprodukte Import und Export GmbH, Köthen. Published in Bundesanzeiger on 8 August 2022.</ref> | products = Day-old chicks | owner = Wagner family, PHW Group | revenue = €295.158 million<ref name="fiscal2021" /> | revenue_year = 2021 | num_employees = 1262<ref name="fiscal2021" /> | num_employees_year = 2021 | parent = | website = {{URL|https://www.wimex-group.com}} }}

The '''WIMEX Group''' is an internationally active German company in the meat and agricultural industry, based in Köthen, Saxony-Anhalt. With an annual capacity of 435.455 million hatching eggs, it is the largest producer of day-old chicks for chicken fattening in Europe<ref name="vondrechsel">{{Cite web |title=Leopold Graf von Drechsel ist 60 |website=wimex-group.com |date=1 June 2022 |access-date=2023-02-05 |url=https://www.wimex-group.com/leopold-graf-von-drechsel-ist-60/ |language=de}}</ref> and one of the world's largest suppliers of broiler chickens of the ''Cobb'' breed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cobb Germany feierte 20-jähriges Jubiläum |website=DGS-Magazin.de |date=2018 |access-date=2023-02-02 |url=https://www.dgs-magazin.de/article-5786184-472/cobb-germany-feierte-20-jaehriges-jubilaeum-.html |language=de}}</ref> Its revenue in 2021 was €295,158 million.<ref name="fiscal2021" /> Just under 50 percent of the company's shares are owned by the PHW Group.<ref name="spiegel2017-03-28">{{Cite web |title=Geflügelmast: So leiden die Hühnereltern |last=Kwasniewski |first=Nicolai |website=spiegel.de |date=28 March 2017 |access-date=2023-02-02 |url=https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/gefluegelmast-so-leiden-die-huehnereltern-a-1140175.html |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Wimex: Großer ostdeutscher Agrarbetrieb |work=mz.de |date=20 October 2010 |access-date=2023-02-02 |url=https://www.mz.de/mitteldeutschland/wimex-grosser-ostdeutscher-agrarbetrieb-2234812 |language=de}}</ref>

The family-run group of companies consists of 28 individual companies,<ref name="wimex-report" /> the parent company being ''WIMEX Agrarprodukte Import und Export GmbH'' with administrative headquarters in Regenstauf, Bavaria.<ref name="fiscal2021" /><ref>{{Cite web | title=Neubau eingeweiht - DGS MAGAZIN | url=https://www.dgs-magazin.de/suche/article-6279884-194474/neubau-eingeweiht-.html | access-date=2025-08-16 | website=www.dgs-magazin.de}}</ref>

WIMEX has repeatedly come under criticism. Among other things, the company has been accused of animal cruelty and environmental damage.<ref name="wiwo">{{Cite web |title=Nitrat im Trinkwasser: EU-Subventionen für Verschmutzung des Grundwassers |first=Justus |last=von Daniels |website=wiwo.de |date=7 August 2017 |access-date=2023-02-05 |url=https://www.wiwo.de/technologie/umwelt/nitrat-im-trinkwasser-eu-subventionen-fuer-verschmutzung-des-grundwassers/20154836.html |language=de}}</ref>

==History== In 1961, the poultry group ''Lohmann'' (now PHW Group) started up the broiler hatchery ''Brüterei Süd'' in Regenstauf.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Unternehmenshistorie PHW | url=https://www.phw-gruppe.de/unternehmen/historie/ | access-date=2025-08-16 | website=www.phw-gruppe.de}}</ref><ref name="regenstaufde" /> Gerhard Wagner came to Regenstauf in the course of this as a field representative of ''Lohmann'' and later became managing director of the hatchery. In 1985, Wagner finally founded the ''WIMEX Agrarprodukte Import und Export GmbH'' 1985 in Regenstauf for the production of hatching eggs.<ref name="history" /><ref name="regenstaufde">{{Cite web |url=https://www.regenstauf.de/fileadmin/Gemeinde/Dateien/Mitteilungsblatt/2021/www.regenstauf.de.pdf |title=Ehrenbürger und Träger der Bürgermedaille |last=Norgall |website=regenstauf.de |date=26 February 2021 |access-date=2023-01-20 |archive-date=22 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122210523/https://www.regenstauf.de/fileadmin/Gemeinde/Dateien/Mitteilungsblatt/2021/www.regenstauf.de.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the 1990s, the company expanded into Eastern Germany. There, the company invested extensively in agricultural land, making it one of the larger investors in the agricultural land market in the new states of Germany.<ref name="poultryworld">{{Cite web |title=Expansion of chick giant Wimex |last=van Dooren |first=Kees |work=Poultry World |date=9 February 2017 |access-date=2023-02-02 |url=https://www.poultryworld.net/poultry/expansion-of-chick-giant-wimex/ |language=en}}</ref><ref name="thuenen2011">{{Cite web |url=https://d-nb.info/1019806796/34 |title=Aktivitäten von nichtlandwirtschaftlichen und überregional ausgerichteten Investoren auf dem landwirtschaftlichen Bodenmarkt in Deutschland |website=d-nb.info |date=2011 |access-date=2023-01-20 |language=de}}</ref>

In 1998, WIMEX took over the distribution of the ''Cobb'' breeding line under the name ''Cobb Germany'' as a franchisee of the international breeding company Cobb-Vantress (part of Tyson Foods).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cobb-Vantress names new president |last=Crews |first=Joel |work=meatpoultry.com |date=1 April 2022 |access-date=2023-02-02 |url=https://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/26003-cobb-vantress-names-new-president |language=en}}</ref> From 2005 onwards, WIMEX expanded into the Netherlands.<ref name="poultryworld" /> In 2017, WIMEX opened two newly built hatcheries, in Elsnigk as well as Vreden.<ref name="history" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Geflügelproduktion in Elsnigk: Hitech für mehr Küken ab 2017 im Einsatz |last=Dawal |first=Helmut |work=mz.de |date=30 December 2016 |access-date=2023-02-02 |url=https://www.mz.de/mitteldeutschland/landkreis-anhalt-bitterfeld/geflugelproduktion-in-elsnigk-hitech-fur-mehr-kuken-ab-2017-im-einsatz-1262125 |language=de}}</ref>

The company's founder Gerhard Wagner presided over the operational management from 1985 to 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Umstrukturierung an der Spitze |work=dgs-magazin.de |date=2019 |access-date=2023-02-02 |url=https://www.dgs-magazin.de/suche/article-6204658-194474/umstrukturierung-an-der-spitze-.html |language=de}}</ref> Since then, the company has been managed by three managing directors: Ulrich Wagner, Leopold Graf von Drechsel and Ralph Weickert.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wechsel in der Geschäftsführung |website=wimex-group.com |access-date=2023-02-02 |url=https://www.wimex-group.com/wechsel-in-der-geschaeftsfuehrung-der-wimex-gruppe/ |language=de}}</ref>

In 2020, WIMEX founded the joint venture ''WIMEX & Friends Energy GmbH & Co. KG'' with the ''Freitag Group'' for the construction of photovoltaic systems on stables.<ref name="wimex-report">{{Cite web |url=https://www.wimex-group.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/20211006_WimexGroup_Nachhaltigkeitsbericht_2020-2.pdf |title=Nachhaltigkeitsbericht 2020 |website=wimex-group.com |date=2021 |access-date=2023-01-20 |language=de}}</ref>

In March 2021, H5N8 avian influenza broke out at a WIMEX farm in Nittenau, Bavaria.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Große Keulungsaktion in Nittenau – Stallpflicht in Risikogebieten |website=otv.de |date=5 March 2021 |access-date=2023-02-03 |url=https://www.otv.de/mediathek/video/grosse-keulungsaktion-in-nittenau-stallpflicht-in-risikogebieten/ |language=de}}</ref><ref name="onetz">{{Cite web |title=Geflügelpest in Nittenau: Keulung von 50 000 Tieren in vollem Gang |website=onetz.de |access-date=2023-02-03 |url=https://www.onetz.de/oberpfalz/nittenau/gefluegelpest-nittenau-keulung-50-000-tieren-vollem-gang-id3189169.html |language=de}}</ref> As a result, around 52,000 animals were culled by gathering them in containers and subsequent {{CO2}} flooding.<ref name="onetz" /> A restricted area was established around the WIMEX farm, and restocking of the barn was officially prohibited for 21 days. It remained unclear whether the virus was introduced via a wild bird, due to poor hygiene, or through contaminated feed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vogelgrippe: Erste Ermittlungen laufen |website=Mittelbayerische Zeitung |date=5 March 2021 |access-date=2023-02-03 |url=https://www.mittelbayerische.de/region/schwandorf-nachrichten/vogelgrippe-erste-ermittlungen-laufen-21416-art1985563.html |language=de}}</ref>

==Shareholders== The largest shareholder, with a stake of 49.25%, is the ''Wagner Family Foundation'' based in Regenstauf.<ref name="shareholders">List of shareholders of WIMEX Agrarprodukte Import und Export GmbH. In: European e-Justice Portal, Dezember 19, 2012.</ref> The PHW Group, the largest company in the German poultry industry, is the second-largest shareholder, with a stake of 48.76%.<ref name="spiegel2017-03-28" /><ref name="shareholders" /> The other shares belong to WIMEX Agrarprodukte Import und Export GmbH itself as well as to the founder Gerhard Wagner (0.49%).<ref name="shareholders" />

==Structure== The poultry division makes up the largest business unit with €215,998 million and 73.18% of total sales.<ref name="fiscal2021" /> In addition, the company is active in agriculture (€78.317 million, or 26.53%) and fodder production (€0.843 million, or 29%).<ref name="fiscal2021" />

===Poultry=== thumb|Logo of Cobb Germany WIMEX achieves a high level of vertical integration by keeping grandparent as well as parent stock in various poultry companies. It is active in operating hatcheries, selling day-old chicks, fattening chickens, producing feed and operating feed plants.<ref name="poultryworld" />

For grandparenting, WIMEX has 36 farms in Germany, producing 10 million chickens of the Cobb breed annually.<ref name="poultryworld" /> For parenting, the company runs 97 farms.<ref name="poultryworld" /> To hatch the hatching eggs, the company runs a number of hatcheries. Day-old chicks are marketed internationally. Important customers are the PHW Group, Plukon and the Sprehe Group.<ref name="poultryworld" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Wiesenhof broiler farmers visit Wimex, study Cobb500 parent stock |website=wattagnet.com |date=1 June 2012 |access-date=2023-02-02 |url=https://www.wattagnet.com/articles/12944-wiesenhof-broiler-farmers-visit-wimex-study-cobb500-parent-stock |language=en}}</ref>

The company also operates chicken fattening plants. The 6 fattening facilities have a capacity for 830,790 chickens<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fleischatlas Regional Mecklenburg-Vorpommern |website=boell-mv.de |date=29 September 2016 |access-date=2023-01-20 |url=https://www.boell-mv.de/sites/default/files/fleischbeileger_mecklenburg-vorpommern_web.pdf |language=de}}</ref> and produce 8 million broilers annually.<ref name="poultryworld" />

WIMEX has a 40.83% stake in ''Cobb Espanola SA'' and a 50% stake in ''Cobb Russia''.<ref name="fiscal2021" /> ''Cobb Russia'' supplies Russia's largest poultry meat producer Cherkizovo, among others.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why Cobb is Winning Favour in Russia |work=thepoultrysite.com |date=5 October 2012 |access-date=2023-02-08 |url= https://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/why-cobb-is-winning-favour-in-russia }}</ref>

===Agriculture=== thumb|''Bördegarten'' vegetable brand logo WIMEX owns more than 8000 hectares of arable land for feed cultivation using conventional farming methods.<ref name="poultryworld" /><ref name="wimex-report" /> Most of the cultivation is carried out by the subsidiary Agrargesellschaft Wulfen mbH.<ref name="fiscal2021" /><ref name="kritischeragrarbericht2010" /> The produce, mainly grain and corn, is used for the group's internal feed supply.<ref name="history" /><ref name="wimex-report" />

Furthermore, WIMEX cultivates vegetables on 800 hectares.<ref name="history" /><ref name="poultryworld" /> WIMEX markets the produce, including radishes and carrots, under the brand ''Bördegarten Gemüse''.<ref name="poultryworld" />

==Other activities== Managing director Gerhard Wagner was president of the lobby organisation ''Zentralverband der Deutschen Geflügelwirtschaft'' (Central Association of the German Poultry Industry, ''ZDG'') from 2001 to 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leopold Graf von Drechsel neuer ZDG-Präsident |website=DGS-Magazin.de |date=16 November 2011 |access-date=2023-02-08 |url=https://www.dgs-magazin.de/suche/article-2746922-194474/leopold-graf-von-drechsel-neuer-zdg-praesident-.html }}</ref> From 2011 to 2016, managing director Leopold Graf von Drechsel was president of the ZDG<ref>{{Cite web |title=Friedrich-Otto Ripke ist neuer ZDG-Präsident |last=Deter |first=Alfons |website=topagrar.com |date=16 November 2016 |access-date=2023-02-08 |url= https://www.topagrar.com/management-und-politik/news/friedrich-otto-ripke-ist-neuer-zdg-praesident-9545085.html }}</ref> and on the executive committee of the ''Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher Tierzüchter'' (Association of German Animal Breeders).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Graf von Drechsel im ADT-Präsidium |website=fleischwirtschaft.de |date=23 October 2012 |access-date=2023-02-08 |url=https://www.fleischwirtschaft.de/nachrichten/nachrichten/Graf-von-Drechsel-im-ADT-Praesidium-18917 }}</ref>

==Awards== WIMEX founder Gerhard Wagner received the Federal Cross of Merit in 2013 for his contribution to the integration of the two German states after reunification.<ref name="regenstaufde" /><ref name="correctiv2017-06-13">{{Cite web |url=https://correctiv.org/top-stories/2017/06/13/irrsinn-der-agrarpolitik/ |website=correctiv.org |title=Irrsinn der Agrarpolitik |date=13 June 2017 |access-date=2023-02-03 |language=de}}</ref>

==Controversies== ===Environmental damage=== WIMEX has repeatedly been accused of being responsible for environmental damage due to high ammonia emissions. According to the Heinrich Böll Foundation's ''meat atlas'' (''Fleischatlas''), WIMEX was one of the largest emitters of ammonia in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, contributing to the acidification of soils, the overfertilization of groundwater and the formation of health-damaging particulate matter.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Fleischatlas - Daten und Fakten über Tiere als Nahrungsmittel | url=https://www.boell.de/sites/default/files/fleischatlas_regional_2016_aufl_3.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726115724/https://www.boell.de/sites/default/files/fleischatlas_regional_2016_aufl_3.pdf | archive-date=2017-07-26}}</ref>

In 2017, the research organization Correctiv published a data analysis according to which the nitrate content of the groundwater around the WIMEX farms in and around Baasdorf exceeded the limit value by almost double.<ref name="wiwo" /><ref name="correctiv2017-06-13" />

===Animal cruelty=== In 2010, ARD magazin ''Report Mainz'' broadcast footage published by the animal rights organization PETA of a parent-animal farm in Natenstedt, Lower Saxony,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tierquälerei bei Wiesenhof?: Wie Hühner in dem Vorzeigeunternehmen leiden |website=swr.de |date=11 January 2010 |access-date=2023-01-20 |url=https://www.swr.de/report/tierquaelerei-bei-wiesenhof-wie-huehner-in-dem-vorzeigeunternehmen-leiden/-/id=233454/did=5704260/nid=233454/1qf8jij/index.html |archive-date=22 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122165913/https://www.swr.de/report/tierquaelerei-bei-wiesenhof-wie-huehner-in-dem-vorzeigeunternehmen-leiden/-/id=233454/did=5704260/nid=233454/1qf8jij/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Neue Vorwürfe gegen Wiesenhof |website=swr.de |date=1 February 2010 |access-date=2023-01-20 |url=https://www.swr.de/report/neue-vorwuerfe-gegen-wiesenhof/-/id=233454/did=5793188/nid=233454/ak0kuy/index.html |archive-date=20 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120111005/https://www.swr.de/report/neue-vorwuerfe-gegen-wiesenhof/-/id=233454/did=5793188/nid=233454/ak0kuy/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> which showed chickens being kicked and thrown several meters against walls.<ref name="stern-2010-01-11">{{Cite web |title=Peta wirft Wiesenhof Tierquälerei vor |website=stern.de |date=11 January 2010 |access-date=2023-02-02 |url=https://www.stern.de/wirtschaft/news/-schockierendes-material--peta-wirft-wiesenhof-tierquaelerei-vor-3334242.html}}</ref> The parent-animal farm was a WIMEX contract producer, and the buyer of the hatching eggs was the PHW Group subsidiary Wiesenhof.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tierquälerei auf Farm in Natenstedt |website=kreiszeitung.de |date=13 January 2010 |access-date=2023-02-02 |url=https://www.kreiszeitung.de/lokales/diepholz/tierquaelerei-farm-natenstedt-588908.html}}</ref> Peta criticized the conditions as massive animal welfare violations.<ref name="stern-2010-01-11" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Der Wiesenhof-Skandal 2010 |work=PETA Deutschland e.V. |date=31 August 2011 |access-date=2023-02-02 |url=https://www.peta.de/themen/wiesenhof2010/}}</ref> The PHW Group admitted that the recordings showed animal cruelty, the conditions were inexcusable and not compatible with the animal welfare guidelines for parent animal farms.<ref name="stern-2010-01-11" /><ref name="agrarheute">{{Cite web |title=Geflügel – Unternehmen widerspricht Darstellung von 'report Mainz' |work=agrarheute.com |date=3 February 2010 |access-date=2023-02-02 |url=https://www.agrarheute.com/tier/unternehmen-widerspricht-darstellung-report-mainz-485587}}</ref> According to PHW Group, these were individual cases,<ref name="agrarheute" /> the company had drawn personal consequences.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tierquälerei bei Wiesenhof? |website=NWZonline.de |date=12 January 2010 |access-date=2023-02-05 |url=https://www.nwzonline.de/region/twistringen-rechterfeld-gefluegel-tierquaelerei-bei-wiesenhof_a_1,0,3059684477.html}}</ref>

In 2016, the television magazine Panorama broadcast footage published by the animal rights organization Animal Rights Watch (ARIWA) of animal farms run by leading officials of German agricultural associations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Massive Tierschutz-Probleme bei Bauern-Chefs |first=Oda |last=Lambrecht |work=ndr.de |date=22 September 2016 |access-date=2023-02-02 |url=https://daserste.ndr.de/panorama/archiv/2016/Massive-Tierschutzv-Problem-bei-Bauern-Chefs,tierschutz248.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tierschützer machen führenden Bauern schwere Vorwürfe |last=Liebrich |first=Silvia |website=Süddeutsche.de |date=22 September 2016 |access-date=2023-02-02 |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/tierschutz-tierschuetzer-machen-fuehrenden-landwirten-schwere-vorwuerfe-1.3173975-0#seite-2}}</ref> Among them were parent-animal farms run by WIMEX, whose CEO Graf von Drechsel was president of the ''Zentralverband der Deutschen Geflügelwirtschaft'' at the time. ARIWA spoke of massive animal welfare violations.<ref name="ariwa">{{Cite web |title=Systematisches Tierleid bei den wichtigsten Agrarlobbyisten |website=ariwa.org |date=22 September 2016 |access-date=2023-02-08 |url= https://www.ariwa.org/tierleid-bei-agrarlobbyisten/ }}</ref> Von Drechsel confirmed that the footage came from WIMEX farms and that back and shoulder injuries had been poorly treated.<ref name="ariwa" />

In 2017, the television magazine Frontal 21 and Spiegel Online reported on recent footage published by ARIWA from five WIMEX parent animal farms in Baasdorf, Rosefeld, Wettin-Löbejün, Wettin, and Pilsenhöh. The footage showed featherless chickens with festering wounds as well as chickens lying dead on the floor.<ref name="spiegel2017-03-28" /> The footage also showed animals being killed in a manner contrary to animal welfare by having their necks twisted.<ref name="nd">{{Cite web |title=Massenhaft gequälte Hühnereltern (nd-aktuell.de) |last=Damm |first=Haidy |work=nd-aktuell.de |date=10 April 2017 |access-date=2023-02-08 |url= https://www.nd-aktuell.de/artikel/1047577.massenhaft-gequaelte-huehnereltern.html }}</ref> ARIWA also criticized the fact that fodder was only available for one hour a day and that water was not continuously available either, which led to the sensation of hunger given the animals were bred for rapid weight gain.<ref name="spiegel2017-03-28" /> Michaela Dämmrich, official veterinarian and animal welfare officer of the state of Lower Saxony, classified parts of the recorded conditions as animal welfare violations and described the husbandry system as inappropriate for animals.<ref name="spiegel2017-03-28" /> WIMEX stated that it took the accusations very seriously, but could not provide a detailed assessment.<ref name="spiegel2017-03-28" />

===Subsidies=== In 2017, the investigative journalism organisation Correctiv published research on how many subsidies WIMEX receives through its various subsidiaries and then cross-referenced the findings with data on pollutant emissions from the farms. Correctiv criticized that WIMEX receives public subsidies in large amounts, but at the same time harms the common good in the form of factory farming as well as environmental pollution.<ref name="wiwo" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://correctiv.org/aktuelles/wirtschaft/agrarindustrie/2017/06/20/subventionen-fuer-verschmutzer-wie-wir-mit-oeffentlichen-daten-gearbeitet-haben/ |title=Subventionen für Verschmutzer: Wie wir mit öffentlichen Daten gearbeitet haben |website=correctiv.org |date=20 June 2017 |access-date=2023-02-08 |first=Stefan |last=Wehrmeyer}}</ref>

In 2018, Der Spiegel reported that WIMEX had received around €275,000 in EU agricultural subsidies the year before and criticized the fact that the payment of the money was not linked to environmental or animal welfare requirements and that WIMEX did not have to pay anything back despite documented misconduct.<ref name="spiegel2018-05-31">{{Cite web |title=Wo die EU-Agrarsubventionen wirklich hinfließen |last=Kwasniewski |first=Nicolai |website=spiegel.de |date=31 May 2018 |access-date=2023-02-08 |url= https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/eu-subventionen-fuer-finanzinvestoren-und-tierhalter-a-1210185.html }}</ref>

===Landgrabbing=== According to the Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, WIMEX is one of the major investors in the agricultural land market in the new states.<ref name="thuenen2011"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Überregional aktive Kapitaleigentümer in ostdeutschen Agrarunternehmen: Bestandsaufnahme und Entwicklung |last=Tietz |first=Andreas |website=thuenen.de |date=2015 |access-date=2023-01-20 |url=https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn056046.pdf}}</ref> The Arbeitsgemeinschaft bäuerliche Landwirtschaft criticized the actions of WIMEX and other investors as ''East German land grabbing''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AbL gegen ostdeutsches Landgrabbing durch LPG-Nachfolger und Investoren |website=bund.net |date=21 July 2013 |access-date=2023-02-03 |url=http://leisnig.bund.net/uploads/media/Pressemitteilung_AbL_21.7.13.pdf}}</ref> The yearbook ''critical farming report'' (''Kritischer Agrarbericht'') registered WIMEX in a list of agro-industrial large-scale landowners that would destroy many times more farm jobs<ref name="kritischeragrarbericht2010">{{Cite web |title=Die verschwiegene Agrarindustrialisierung |last=Niemann |first=Eckehard |website=kritischer-agrarbericht.de |date=2010 |access-date=2023-01-20 |url=https://kritischer-agrarbericht.de/fileadmin/Daten-KAB/KAB-2010/Niemann.pdf}}</ref> and endanger agricultural structures.<ref name="kritischeragrarbericht2013">{{Cite web |title=Landwirtschaft von morgen – und die Geister von gestern |last=Stodieck |first=Friedhelm |website=kritischer-agrarbericht.de |date=2013 |access-date=2023-01-20 |url=https://kritischer-agrarbericht.de/fileadmin/Daten-KAB/KAB-2013/01_Rueckblick.pdf}}</ref>

===Food waste=== WIMEX has been accused of food waste in vegetable production by local residents. Truckloads of fresh vegetables were dumped and plowed under in the fields instead of being marketed or given to those in need. WIMEX defended the practice by saying that it would be nothing unusual and resulted from high specifications by the purchasing retail chains.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Verschwendung in Großpaschleben: Agrarbetrieb Wimex schmeißt bergeweise Gemüse weg |last=Greiner |first=Stefanie |website=mz.de |date=8 September 2016 |access-date=2023-02-03 |url=https://www.mz.de/mitteldeutschland/landkreis-anhalt-bitterfeld/verschwendung-in-grosspaschleben-agrarbetrieb-wimex-schmeisst-bergeweise-gemuse-weg-1218577}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommentar zu Wimex-Gemüse: Köthens Tafel ist froh über jede Spende |last=Greiner |first=Stefanie |website=mz.de |date=15 September 2016 |access-date=2023-02-03 |url=https://www.mz.de/lokal/koethen/kommentar-zu-wimex-gemuse-kothens-tafel-ist-froh-uber-jede-spende-1221372 }}</ref>

===Protests=== Animal rights and environmental activists have repeatedly protested against new construction projects pursued by WIMEX.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Junghennen in Winningen: Wimex will bis zu 60.000 Tiere halten |last=Jeschor |first=Marko |work=mz.de |date=30 March 2015 |access-date=2023-02-02 |url=https://www.mz.de/lokal/aschersleben/junghennen-in-winningen-wimex-will-bis-zu-60-000-tiere-halten-2027673}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Hühnerhof in der Kritik |last=Ellrich |first=Franziska |website=volksstimme.de |date=18 June 2015 |access-date=2023-02-03 |url=https://www.volksstimme.de/lokal/schoenebeck/huhnerhof-in-der-kritik-670606}}</ref> Regarding a planned construction in Cochstedt with a capacity of 80,000 animals, WIMEX announced in June 2016 that it would not pursue the project due to ongoing protest from the public.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cochstedt: Mega-Hühnerstall wird nicht gebaut |last=Jeschor |first=Marko |website=mz.de |date=1 June 2016 |access-date=2023-02-03 |url=https://www.mz.de/mitteldeutschland/salzlandkreis/cochstedt-mega-huhnerstall-wird-nicht-gebaut-1170170}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|WIMEX}} *{{Official website|https://www.wimex-group.com}}

Category:Poultry companies Category:Intensive farming Category:Animal food manufacturers Category:German companies established in 1985 Category:Companies based in Saxony-Anhalt Category:Köthen (Anhalt)