Picture this: the luminous allure of Kerrygold butter beckoning from the shelves of your local supermarket. Revered by the Irish for its unrivaled silkiness and creaminess, its popularity has grown on a global scale.
Notably, this golden delight has found its way into the culinary escapades of none other than Oprah and Khloe Kardashian. Yes, you heard it right—Irish dairy farmers making waves in Hollywood. Who saw that coming? Next thing you know, they will be getting fan mail.
Irish agri-food ascendency
Yet, beyond the glitz and glamour, there’s a more profound narrative at play within the Kerrygold story. The brand’s ascendancy, intertwined with the Irish agri-food industry’s success, has been nothing short of extraordinary in recent years.
Irish agri-food exports to the U.S. have had a remarkable 33% increase in the past year alone, winning the hearts and palates of American consumers. Kerrygold’s high-quality products and clever advertising have been one of the driving forces behind this growth.
Ornua’s Impact
The mastermind behind Kerrygold is Ornua, a dairy co-operative and Ireland’s largest exporter of dairy products, exporting to 110 countries worldwide. Headquartered in Dublin, it has annualized sales of over €3.4 billion and a global team of 3,000 employees.
In 2019, Kerrygold products hit a historic milestone and generated over €1 billion in global retail sales, a figure set to double soon. To keep up with demand, Ornua has invested astutely by expanding and ramping up production at Kerrygold Park in Cork.
The success of Kerrygold in the agri-food market stands as a testament to Ornua’s vision and sublime execution. And of course, we can’t forget the farmers, many of whom have been perfecting their craft for generations.
The Future of Kerrygold
As the journey continues, the focus on strategic growth and sustainability will be the key drivers for success in the years to come.
All of us at Irish Inisghts will be watching closely and want to wish new Ornua CEO Conor Galvin, the extended Ornua team, its member Co-ops, and all those amazing Irish dairy farmers the best of luck as they keep churning away and maintain the momentum.