IFA Seek Meeting with Tirlan on US Butter Move
IFA National Council was briefed yesterday on Tirlán’s plans to supply a US retail brand with Irish grass-fed butter for its private label butter brand.
IFA President Francie Gorman said there was huge concern expressed at National Council about the implications of this move for the Kerrygold brand and Ornua. We understand that it is already having significant consequences for the Kerrygold brand in the US.
“I have contacted the Chair of Tirlán looking for an urgent meeting and I hope this will take place shortly,” he said.
IFA’s nominee to the Ornua board, Martin McElearney, wrote to the Ornua Chair on Monday advising him that it was his intention to brief the IFA Dairy Committee and National Council on developments in the US butter market.
“I fully understand my fiduciary duties to Ornua, but I believe that farmers needed to be made aware of what is going on. Ultimately, Ornua is owned by co-ops who are owned by farmers and it is farmers that will pay for any undermining of our product in the US market,” he said.
