Dairygold’s €120m expansion will create over 100 new direct and indirect jobs in Mallow

There has been a long tradition and a proud heritage of milk processing on Dairygold’s milk processing site in Mallow going back almost a century. The planned expansion will build on a long track record of excellence in milk production and milk processing in the Mallow area and will ensure that this proud tradition continues for decades to come.

In preparation for the substantial growth expected in milk production from 2015, the major portion of the planned €120m investment will be spent on the re-development and revitalisation of the Co-op’s Mallow site. In Mallow, Dairygold currently employs 135 people in its milk processing including laboratories, the Co-Op SuperStore, Park Road and in its offices at West End. The re-development proposes to establish a world-class dairy processing facility on the Mallow site integrating current operations with planned new facilities. This is essential so as to have the necessary processing capacity in place to process additional milk and to capitalise on the opportunities which the abolition in 2015 of milk quota restrictions will provide. Dairygold, employing over 1,150 people, is owned by almost 9,000 farmer shareholders, of whom 3,000 are milk suppliers.

The Co-op generates an annual turnover of over €750m, trades in grain, animal feeds, fertiliser and retail goods, processes 940m litres of milk a year, manufacturers dairy ingredients overseas in the UK and Europe and sells dairy product to global markets and key customers worldwide. Issue 1 – August 2012 Dairygold operates three milk processing sites in Munster, producing a range of dairy products including cheese and dairy ingredients in Mitchelstown, speciality cheeses in Mogeely and milk powders including whole milk powders, skim milk powders and blended milk powders in Mallow.

It currently operates on a seasonal basis, working through the months when there is a significant volume of milk supply. It operates a two and three shift work-cycle over twenty four hours. Subject to planning approval, for which a planning application has been submitted, the re-development of the Mallow site could begin in 2013 and be commissioned in advance of the projected milk growth post quota. During the expansion a significant number of construction jobs will be generated. The Mallow re-development plan is wellgrounded and the site’s re-development will provide a great boost for the local food and agricultural sector within Munster. It will help local farmers process milk in a more efficient and sustainable way, generate additional jobs, allow Irish dairy product compete more competitively on the world stage and maintain strong employment in the area. Commenting on the planning application Dairygold Chief Executive Jim Woulfe said that the removal of the quota restriction, “will bring about great opportunity and new life to the Mallow site, delivering a significant economic benefit to the town and to the surrounding area”, commenting that “the Dairygold milk processing site in Mallow can look forward to a bright and sustainable future”.