Czynniki sukcesu spółdzielni mleczarskich w Polsce w latach 1999–2002

This paper explain, why a few cooperatives in Polish dairy sector are prospering well, while many others, on the same dairy market, are suffering heavy recession or going bankrupt. By the comparison of three groups of dairy cooperatives: leaders, average cooperatives and the weakest cooperatives source of the superiority of leaders have been identified. The research results show that dairy cooperatives success was connected with production scale, specialization and market power. This study allows to draw final conclusions, which may be useful for improving market position of other cooperatives – according to the benchmarking