Suppliers against IDB changes

THE Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association warned yesterday that it was completely opposed to any downgrading or dismantling of the Irish Dairy Board.

It was responding to a call by Dairygold chief executive Jerry Henchy at the Irish Grassland Association conference in Limerick for a radical transformation of the IDB, a €1.8 billion turnover co-op, which exports dairy products on behalf of its members to more than 90 markets.

Mr Henchy said the IDB had served the industry well but it should now consider new structures to ensure that it focuses on being the most cost-efficient commodity seller and the best manager of products under the Kerrygold label.