Glanbia plc ‘has not delivered’

The Fresh Milk Producers group which wants to convert Glanbia plc into a co-op said yesterday it was heartened with the response from farmers at the first of a series of meetings on the issue.

Chairman Eamonn Bray said more than 200 people attended the meeting in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, the previous night.

There was a good, frank and open discussion. There was a lot of positive contributions and some negative ones as well.

“We were heartened by the meeting. People feel it is time for change and that we can’t continue down the road we are going.

“Farmers are saying the plc has not delivered and they cannot see a bright future under it going forward,” he said.

Mr Bray said the key objective of converting the plc into a farmer-owned co-op is to maximise farmers’ share of value added from the market place back to the producer.

FMP will hold further farmer meetings in Carlow (Seven Oaks) next Tuesday and in Navan (Newgrange Hotel) on Wednesday.

Glanbia chairman Tom Corcoran has, meanwhile, assured farmers that the co-op board remains fully committed to the group’s strategy. This is to develop strong international positions in cheese, nutritional ingredients and consumer foods with a nutritional emphasis.

Mr Corcoran stated that the co-op board believes this is best achieved through the existing structure.