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The Irish Dairy Board had opened a $12 million (€8.8m) cheese manufacturing facility in the US, completing an $80m (€58.8) expansion on its US food ingredients programme.
The IDB first entered the US food ingredients market in 2008, and acquired Thiel Cheese & Ingredients in 2011.
The new facility, at Thiel Cheese & Ingredients in Wisconsin, was officially opened by Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney.
IDB CEO Kevin Lane said the innovations and research developed at Thiel “will be shared across all of our operations”.
The focus of this investment is on innovation as much as production with our new facility enhancing our ability to create innovative food solutions that meet the evolving needs of our US customer base and their brands.
Commenting on the opening, Coveney said the new plant will “further strengthen the positioning of Ireland and Irish agri-business expertise in the United States, as well as supporting the economic well-being of Irish farmers.”
The minister said the dairy sector is “entering an exciting time” with the abolition of milk quotes in April 2015 and “today’s opening represents the kind of investment which will help the sector realise its true potential”.
The IDB, a co-op of Irish dairies, is Ireland’s largest dairy exporter and exports to over 100 countries. Its portfolio includes Kerrygold, Pilgrims Choice, Dubliner cheese and the milk powder BEO.
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I sense puns coming soon. Butter check back later it curd be gouda.
With the latest craze in the US of using the Irish dairy gold branded butter in coffee set to see increased sales even further,the future looks rosy for Irish dairy products because of our grass fed cows,the use of soya in the US has been shown to be inferior compared to cattle fed on grass,and people have become much more educated on the benifits,but butter in coffee?
USA, i would not say educated really.
Wonder how long it will be now until we sell off the rights to our grass.
Will the dairy used be from ireland or usa?
Monsanto here we come…
The Irish Dairy Board: a bunch of over-paid dinosaurs waiting to collect their gold-plated pensions.
They should invest $80 million in a cheese manufacturing plant in Ireland, and ship the finished product to the U.S. Like they do with Kerrygold butter.
But, no, “We’re a global organisation, you know”. Gimme a break.
Yeh the cheek of them, get all those yankee doodle companies to leave Ireland too why cant they just import here !!
Shipping product across the Atlantic is much easier. It’s more fun to have to deal with customs , Tariffs and a Non US based distribution network.
Extending a local factory that is already in the Dairy industry with existing routes to market and distribution is just too damb easy!! and to hell with their tax breaks!!
Its a private company, why bitch about its pensions….. They don’t cost you a cent.
great news story
Is it?
Wisconsin dairy making Wisconsin butter with an Irish logo.
As a Wisconsinite its a good news story for us.
Not sure about Ireland.
On Wisconsin!
Go badgers!
Irish cheese and butter being used as a component for other products – perhaps bio-oil for American cars.
have your say