Polish, Portuguese retail visits to Irish dairy farms

Bord Bia has hosted buyers from leading retail groups in Poland and Portugal on a tour of an Irish dairy farm.

The buyers are from sister firms in the Jerónimo Martins distribution group, operating in Poland, Portugal, and Colombia.

The buyers were from Pingo Doce, second largest retailer in Portugal; and Biedronka, the largest retailer in Poland with over 2,600 stores.

The group visited Joe Hayden’s dairy farm in Tinahealy, Co Wicklow, a farm of 150 cows. Padraig Brennan, Bord Bia’s Origin Green manager, gave a presentation on Bord Bia’s Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme.

The group also toured the dairy facilities of Carbery and Kerry Group, Glanbia, and Ornua, as well as a number of retail store visits.

Poland has a population of 38 million people. Exports from Ireland were valued at some €125m in 2014.

Portugal is home to 10m people. Irish food and drink exports were valued at €27.6m in 2014, showing an increase of 20% on the previous year.

Irish dairy exports to Portugal grew by 44% for the first half of the year.

While infant formula remains the main export, cheese and butter have also risen, with the reintroduction of Kerrygold in the main Portuguese retailers.