Glanbia puts end to merger moves

MERGERS in the multi-billion euro Irish dairy industry are out, Glanbia group managing director John Moloney declared yesterday.

He told the Agricultural Science Association annual conference in Kilkenny the food group’s emphasis would be on co-operation, shared assets and joint ventures in processing rather than on mergers or amalgamation.

Mr Moloney said scale and competitiveness of dairy producers, and suggestions as to how to promote consolidation, must be addressed if the milk supply base is to be viable in the context of the mid-term review and likely WTO changes.