Joint milk processing deal between Dairygold and Glanbia not on table

Dairygold and Glanbia are unlikely to enter into any joint milk processing arrangement and have not met to discuss the matter since the end of last year.

Dairygold is to file a planning application for two driers at its Mallow facility, possibly in July. Glanbia believes it can still unveil a plan for expanded milk processing that will suit both its PLC and co-op by the end of June — the “60:40 plan” as it is known.

Reliable industry sources said neither company was driving media speculation of a revival of joint talks. The two companies last met at the end of 2011, at which point Dairygold made it clear that its members’ interests would not be well served by teaming up with a PLC.