Two Northeast co-ops combine marketing efforts

Dairy Foods, June, 2004

CANTON, N.Y. -- Two of the Northeast region's largest dairy cooperatives, Allied Federated Cooperatives, and Agri-Mark, have signed an agreement to work together to market their milk.

"Together, it should improve our market position in the marketplace. It should improve our clout legislatively," Agri-Mark spokesman Douglas J. DiMento said. "We'll have to see where this takes us. It really is kind of new. It's going to be business as usual as we exchange information."

As a first step, Allied, which is headquartered in Canton, is buying management services from Massachusetts-based Agri-Mark. Edward G. Pcolar--who was general manager of Allied from 1991 through 1995 and most recently, plant manager for Agri-Mark's largest manufacturing facility in West Springfield, Mass. -will return as Allied's general manager.

"I can't say anymore than that because I just don't know. I don't set policy," Mr. Pcolar said. "I'm an operations person. If I see opportunities, I'm to bring them to both boards. There's no preconceived ideas. I don't see any immediate changes."