Co-op gains capacity to grow share of export markets with €5m plant

Food businesses need to operate at world-class levels of performance to secure and grow their share of export markets.

Agriculture, Food and Marine Minister Simon Coveney said so yesterday when he officially opened a new €5m milk powder processing plant at North Cork Co-operative Creameries in Kanturk.

The new milk-drying plant is one of the most modern and efficient facilities in Ireland producing very high-quality milk powders, together with other operations on a single site, including casein, butter and liquid milk facilities.

It positions the co-op to process increased volumes of milk from producers, other milk-supplying co-operatives and industry peers where it has strategic milk supply partnerships in place.

The development is in line with the global growth in demand for dairy products and the impending abolition of milk quotas in 2015 which will free up dairy farmers and processors from current constraints on milk production.

North Cork Co-operative now has the advanced manufacturing capacity it needs to meet expanding processing requirements and to supply growing global demand for food ingredients.

Mr Coveney said through this innovative investment North Cork has built an impressive facility, making food ingredient products to the highest international quality standards.

This development has contributed to an overall enhanced competitiveness and capacity which will be important when milk quota restrictions are lifted next year.

Co-op chief executive Pat Sheahan said the investment is important to the region’s dairying community and in addressing the needs of the society’s customers on whom its business depends.

North Cork chairman Martin O’Keeffe said the new milk powder plant is a vote of confidence in the future strength of dairying and milk processing at the farmer-owned co-op.

Enterprise Ireland head of food Michael Cantwell said it was good news for Cork and the dairy sector.