Ornua: Growth in Germany Continues with Expansion

Dublin / IR. (ocl) Ornua Co-operative Limited, Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products, is further expanding its German business, with the commencement of a 10 million EUR extension of its production facility in Neukirchen-Vluyn, Dusseldorf. This is the third expansion of the facility, bringing the total investment in Neukirchen-Vluyn to 50 million EUR, as Ornua Deutschland GmbH invests to meet growing demand for Kerrygold products in Germany (and beyond). The investment will expand production and storage facilities, in addition to developing enhanced office space. The development will take approximately 12 months to complete. The expansion of the Neukirchen-Vluyn facility is the latest investment, by Ornua, in opening new routes to market for Irish dairy products. In the last two years, Ornua has grown manufacturing capacity in China, Germany, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the US and the UK. Most recently, Ornua opened Kerrygold Park, in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork, the new global home for Kerrygold. Today, Kerrygold sales retail at 750 million EUR, with targets to grow to one billion EUR. Germany is a core market for Kerrygold.

Since Kerrygold was launched in Germany in 1973, the brand has grown steadily. Given the success of Kerrygold’s iconic advertising and branding, for many Germans, Kerrygold is synonymous with Ireland. Today Kerrygold is the number one butter brand in Germany, selling 100’s of million packets each year and is the brand leader for butter, spreads and cheese. Ornua recently launched Kerrygold yoghurt in the German market. The new category venture will benefit from strong brand awareness and a loyal customer base in Germany, where 20 million households form a solid consumer base. At present, 23’000 German food stores carry Kerrygold products.