Dairygold
| Company type | Cooperative |
|---|---|
| Industry | Dairy |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Global |
Key people | James Lynch (Chairman) Jim Woulfe (CEO)[1] |
| Revenue |  €965.5 million (2017) |
| €32.4 million (2017) | |
Number of employees | 3,000 |
| Parent | Kerry Group |
| Website | Dairygold.ie |
Dairygold Co-Operative Society Limited is an Irish dairy co-operative based in Mitchelstown, County Cork, Ireland. Dairygold processes approximately 1.3 billion litres of milk annually, making it Ireland's largest dairy co-operative and second largest milk supplier, after Glanbia. Dairygold exports to over 50 countries worldwide and currently has dedicated operations in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and China.[2]
History
Up to 1989, the Mitchelstown Co-Operative Agricultural Society Ltd, had been Ireland's largest co-operative for over fifty years. This farmers "co-op" was founded in 1919 under the leadership of local farmer Con O'Brien of Killickane, who chaired the co-op for its first 40 years and then became honorary life president until his death in 1968. Between 1919 and 1989, Mitchelstown Co-op Creameries became the largest and most important dairy processing business in the island of Ireland. It became famous nationally for its processed cheese brands but was better known in overseas dairy industry circles for the high quality and large variety of its natural cheeses which were extensively exported around Europe and for which it earned many international prizes.
Cork's two largest dairy co-operatives, Mitchelstown and Ballyclough, founded in 1908, agreed on a merger in 1989 and Dairygold was founded the following year, instantly becoming Ireland's largest dairy co-operative, a position it has held ever since.
Operations
The society now has 3,000 milk suppliers and over 7,000 shareholders, with offices in Ireland, the UK, Barcelona, Mainz and Shanghai. Dairygold produces finished dairy products, as well as raw feed ingredients such as butter, cheese and milk powder. The Agribusiness section of the co-operative produces animal feed and fertilizers. Dairygold distributes products through its network of 39 stores located across Munster, under the Co-Op Store and Co-Op Superstore retail brands, as well as through its parent company Kerry Group.