EU’s €347bn co-op business
Kerry Group is the top Irish co-op rated by turnover, at €5,836m in 2013.
Glanbia is also in the top 25, with turnover of €3,282m.
The PLC/co-ops such as Kerry and Glanbia, but (partly) farmer owned and controlled, are included in these latest rankings compiled by compiled by European farmer and agricultural co-op organisations.
The ranking shows that the 22,000 EU co-ops maintain a strong market presence in the European food supply chain.
Their total turnover is about €347 billion. The total turnover of the top 100 co-ops grew by 4% from 2011 to 2012, and jumped 14% in 2013.
Although rated 9th, 21st and 32nd among all EU co-ops, Kerry Group and Glanbia and the Irish Dairy Board are respectively rated the third, sixth and seventh biggest dairy co-ops in the EU.
Dairygold Co-op’s €847m turnover places it at No 62 among EU co-ops.
The 100% dairy market and 66% livestock marts shares for co-ops in Ireland is acknowledged in the Copa-Cogeca “Development of agricultural cooperatives in the EU 2014” publication.
