Dairy Board in expansion drive

THE Irish Dairy Board (IDB) is about to embark on an ambitious expansion drive in overseas markets, according to its chief executive Kevin Lane.

Underperforming units will be sold off to fund this drive, with a likely push for sales of cheese and whole milk powder in Africa, the Middle East and China.

Key acquisitions are also on the cards in the target markets, and new facilities may also be built similar to the €11 million cheese manufacturing operation due to open in Manchester next year.