Leaders of Irish dairy co-ops in talks on how to restructure the industry

THE leaders of Irish dairy co-ops and processors are being invited to attend a further series of meetings on how to re-structure the industry.

ICOS, the co-ops umbrella body, is engaged in an ongoing debate with the industry on how it should adapt and position its processing and marketing structure for the future. It is now inviting the chairmen and chief executives of dairy co-ops and processors to a number of meetings over the coming months. The first of these will take place on October 19.

ICOS said it has invested considerable time and resources holding many consultations, seminars, information meetings and board presentations with the industry across the country. “We have received positive feedback from many industry sources for the progressive nature of our approach which is aimed at generating change in the Irish dairy industry.

“There is a high level of knowledge and understanding of the issues involved and what is happening in other countries,” it said.

Further meetings with the co-ops and processors are now being organised by ICOS to discuss all of the various issues and to allow for a constructive sharing of views among senior dairy industry participants.

“The sessions will explore the challenges and issues facing the industry and assess its views on the directions that need to be taken,” it said.

Senior business academics, Damien McLoughlin, Frank Bradley and Pat Gibbons, UCD Smurfit Business School, will act as facilitators at these meetings to ensure as wide ranging a discussion as possible of the issues involved.

A summary of the discussions will also be formulated and provided back to each participant in the months ahead.

ICOS said all participants will be asked to take a constructive approach to the future best interests of the industry and it looked forward to the creation of further positive outcomes from the process.