Back mart plan, shareholders urged
The creation of Central Auctions will involve two phases - the proposed merger of Birr and Nenagh and the integration of Roscrea mart, currently part of Glanbia.
The respective mart chairmen, Des Dempsey (Birr), John O’Brien (Nenagh) and Ray Dempsey (Roscrea) have confirmed Central Auctions will operate the three marts with a consolidated single management and staff structure.
It will focus on strengthening livestock marketing in each of the three areas and putting it on a stronger footing, ensuring a more competitive and viable service to farmers in the future.
They confirmed the core business will be auction selling of livestock and diversification options that add value to the co-op business will be examined.
Overall, based on the consolidated 2003 mart activity of the three marts, Central Auctions business will have a turnover of around €35 million, with cattle sales exceeding 47,000 head and sheep exceeding 81,000 head per year.
The proposal to form Central Auctions follows extensive consultations between the three marts, which examined how to strengthen farmer controlled livestock marketing in the region. The consultation concluded with the unanimous support of the committees of Birr, Nenagh and Roscrea for the proposal.
