OpenDairy launches digital marketplace for dairy trading industry

The platform enables buyers and sellers of dairy commodities to connect and trade with each other directly and transparently.

OpenDairy is free to use, sellers and buyers only pay a fee per transaction.

Buyers are able to submit their requirements and specifications and the platform's system will match the relevant suppliers for each product. Sellers are able to upload their offers for worldwide buyers to view and react to. To facilitate a full-service experience to platform users, the company has integrated logistical and financing services.

OpenDairy has partnered with financial and credit companies to ensure sellers are paid quickly and buyers have extended payment terms. The platform has integrated financing functionalities.

OpenDairy collaborates with logistics and transportation experts to handle all transportation and documents that clients need to deal directly through the platform.

The platform’s centralized order-management also allows for simple and transparent processes, according to the company. OpenDairy said the system allows buyers and sellers to follow their orders in real-time for more accurate logistics information and peace of mind.

Users can rate each other post-transaction and this information is made public.

The idea to digitize the dairy trading business came from founders Henk de Weijer and Martijn Goedhart, both of whom worked as traders at Hoogwegt — one of the biggest companies in the sector — for a decade.

“Our time spent working in the industry revealed to us a crucial need for transparency in each step of the trade process. The time for innovation is now and we know the only way to achieve this is through digitizing the entire process from start to finish,”​ de Weijer said.

During the pilot phase in 2021, the platform generated multiple trades between buyers and sellers all over Europe. In 2022, the company expects to reach a trading-volume of 40.000 tonnes, mainly milk powders and butter.