Fears for the future of North Cork Creameries' Kanturk plant
It is understood that a multi-million euro investment would be required to resolve the issue.
here are fears for the future of North Cork Creameries' milk processing facility in Kanturk, which employs up to 100 people.
The plant was last month ordered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to stop discharging effluent from the site into the River Allow over ongoing non-compliances with Emission Limit Values.
With the effluent plant offline, North Cork Creameries can’t process at the site. It is understood that a multi-million euro investment would be required to resolve the issue.
There are now fears the plant could close, with up to 100 jobs at risk.
North Cork Creameries met with staff yesterday and with suppliers today to inform them of the situation. However, it has not initiated the formal process for redundancies yet.
The Carbery Group is currently processing some milk for North Cork Creameries. A possible agreement could see all milk from NCC processed by Carbery.
Around 70 shareholders attended what was described as a “closed" two-hour meeting in a community hall just outside the village of Banteer on Thursday.
It is understood shareholders are annoyed that so much money had been spent by the creamery bosses on acquisitions and that they had expanded too fast.
A figure referenced is understood to have been “around €8 million” in shareholders funds that have been used.
Few wanted to comment after the meeting.
One farmer said: “I feel very let down and angry because I came here for answers and I don’t think I got them.
“The future of the company? I’d say it’s touch and go and it’s in the balance.” Asked about the mood in the meeting, he said: “It wasn’t great, to be honest.”Â
Another farmer, when asked for a comment, simply replied “nothing is definite and nothing is entirely clear”.
In Kanturk, one business owner, who asked not to be named, said: “This is going to be a terrible blow to the town.”
