Ireland: Ornua opens butter production & packing facility

Ornua, the Irish dairy cooperative, has announced the opening of its new €38 million ($42 million) Kerrygold butter production and packing facility in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, Ireland.

Named Kerrygold Park, the new facility will have a capacity of up to 50,000 tonnes of butter per annum and will initially employ 65 people.

In a statement, Ornua said that the site would ensure a world-class supply chain to support a target of growing sales €1 billion ($1.1 billion), as well as aiding the further development of the Kerrygold brand. Kerrygold Park will alsi have the capability to produce new butter products and formats not currently available in Ireland, the company added.

Commenting on the news, Ornua CEO Kevin Lane said: "The opening of Kerrygold Park marks a special day for Ireland’s dairy industry. The quality of Irish milk is exceptional. From the fields to the processors, the success of Kerrygold is based on the outstanding quality of the milk and cream that goes into it. Now, we have a world-class production and packing facility to complete the value chain. Kerrygold Park is core to our ambitious plans to develop the Kerrygold brand from a butter brand to a dairy brand. Not only will the new facility significantly enhance our production, it also greatly improves our innovation capability and our ability to deliver premium dairy products to consumers around the world. This is the most effective way of securing value for Irish dairy farmers".

Source: Ornua