Dairy Foods in July had the opportunity to visit Ireland and several of its dairy processors, thanks to an invitation from Bord Bia, the Irish Dairy Board. Our visit lasted four days, with three spent traveling by bus throughout the country. Ireland truly earns its nickname of the “Emerald Isle,” as we instantly noticed the deep green color of the grass everywhere we went.

The trip entailed seeing two big cities, Dublin and Cork, as well as several smaller towns, including Bandon and Portlaoise (pronounced port-leash). The July trip was a great way to beat the U.S. heat, as Ireland temperatures hovered around 60 degrees throughout our stay. The trip was highlighted by not only seeing thousands of cows but also spending time with about 250 of them. 

Before the Bord Bia trip officially began, we took a side trip to the world-famous Guinness Storehouse and took a tour to see where the dark Irish Stout has been brewed for centuries.

Getting back to dairy, interestingly, one in four Irish residents are involved in the food industry in some fashion. On our trip, Dairy Foods visited four companies: Killowen Farm, Tirlán, Carbery Net Zero Farm, and Lakeland Dairies. 

How it started

Our fascinating trip commenced in Dublin at Bord Bia headquarters, where David Kennedy, head of dairy, explained that dairy is the biggest export for Ireland, home to more than 5 million residents. In fact, dairy products were a 6 billion euro export in 2023. Butter, cheese, and casein are some of the biggest products exported to North America. 

Many dairy producers in Ireland are cooperatives who have made a huge pledge to the Origin Green Ireland sustainability plan. The program, founded in 2012, involves manufacturers establishing sustainability targets and whom are audited annually. 

Approximately 11,000 dairy farms are tested annually, with dairy processors offered advice afterward on how to improve their sustainability efforts. 

Many coops implement a Sustainability Incentive Bonus in Ireland, whereas if farmers meet goals as part of the audit, they receive a reward in the form of a higher dividend payment. 

Some of the ways Ireland is currently trying to tackle the huge sustainability challenge include the reduction of chemical nitrates, reduction of TMR (total mixed ration) feed, overall technological advancements, and water and energy reduction. 

Killowen Farm

Dairy Foods’ first processor visit took place at Killowen Farm in southeast Ireland in the foothills of the Blackstairs Mountains in Wexford. We witnessed the entire yogurt-production process, thanks to the Dunne family, which is now in its ninth generation. 

Killowen Yogurt has the distinction of being the only item on the breakfast table at the 7 Star Burj Al Arab in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Killowen is also Ireland’s only single-origin dairy farm, whereas every drop of milk for its yogurt comes from its own cows. The Dunne family noted it likes to be “ahead in the sustainability” game, with Origin Green helping it to get there. The company also uses 100% recyclable plastic.

Of important note, the Dunne family revealed during our visit that it has received significant interest in stocking its yogurt in the United States for the first time. Killowen, which employs 85 people, offers many varieties of yogurt that could be well received in the U.S., including its high-protein yogurts, as well as unique flavors, such as Lemon Curd, its best-selling yogurt, which we had the opportunity to taste. 

Tirlán

Tirlán, whose headquarters are located in the beautiful town of Kilkenny, was the second stop on our trip. Ireland’s No. 1 dairy company in terms of sales, Tirlán (Tir is an Irish word for land and lán means plenty or an abundance) exports both products and ingredients to some 95 countries. The coop receives its milk and eggs from 5,016 farms. 

In North America, Tirlán is known for its Truly Grass Fed products, which by its name show its importance and reliance on grass-fed cows. The company has recognized North America as a major area for potential growth. In fact, in the past year, Truly Grass Fed expanded its U.S. distribution to several more retail outlets, including Sprouts Farmers Market, Natural Grocers, New Seasons Market, and MOM’s Organic Market.

“Our expansion into these major retailers is a testament to the growing demand for natural, ethically sourced dairy and oat products,” Jaclyn Crabbe, marketing director for Truly Grass Fed, stated in June. “We’re excited to see shoppers’ increased interest in our brand, and we look forward to bringing the taste of Ireland’s green fields to even more households across the country.”

In addition to Truly Grass Fed, during our visit to Tirlán’s Kilkenny headquarters, we learned about ingredient innovation, including functional variations to beverages, such as whey protein.

Tirlán also stressed its sustainability efforts, noting it has been an Origin Green Member the past four years. It has set forth carbon emission reduction as a main goal, and offers programs to support farmers on delivering on their targets.

Carbery Net Zero Farm

Our next stop was Carbery Net Zero Farm in Bandon. It was a truly unique visit, as we saw a climate-neutral, economically viable dairy farm that produces milk. The farm, also called Farm Zero C, is a collaboration between Carbery and BiOrbic, Ireland’s national bioeconomy research center. 

The model farm opened in 2021 and is currently working on many sustainability initiatives. Fiona Rawlinson, head of marketing and nutrition for Carbery, noted the company has reduced its carbon footprint in recent years, but trimming animal emissions is a “big challenge.”

“Sustainability sits at the heart of our business. We are focusing on climate and planetary health,” she says. “We are targeting a 3% annual energy reduction and a 3% annual water consumption through 2026.”

She added the company hopes to be Scope 3 net zero by 2043 and water it uses is returned to the Bandon River.

“We’ve made great strides as a business,” Rawlinson stressed.

Carbery, founded in 1965, offers ingredients, flavors, natural cheeses, infant nutrition, and more, achieved 616.1 millon euros in revenues in 2023. The coop is owned by 1,180 shareholders.

Lakeland Dairies

For the final stop on the Irish dairy tour, we took a two-hour bus jaunt to Bailieborough and visited Lakeland Diaries, housed on a 26-acre campus. Donning lab coats, protective footwear, and glasses, Dairy Foods took the full tour of the facilities, which concluded with taste testing.

Lakeland Dairies, a 1.6 billion euro revenue company, is a coop owned by 3,200 family farms. It exports to 120 countries and is the second-largest processor of milk in Ireland. Lakeland operates five production facilities throughout the country and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom.

The first thing we noticed upon seeing the plant was its tremendous amount of automation and technology. In fact, Lakeland made a 6 million euro investment in the facility in 2023. 

Lakeland’s main export to the United States is casein. The company confirmed about 10% to 15% of the casein it exports is to the United States. 

During our visit, Lakeland also stressed its sustainability efforts. It has a sustainable plan, with goals including reducing its carbon footprint by 30% by 2030.

Regarding employment, Lakeland is the biggest employer in Bailieborough, a medium-sized town of around 3,000. Companywide, its total employee count numbers 1,300, with 280 located in Bailieborough. The company stressed it has a very low employee turnover rate and it launched a significant diversity, equity, and inclusion effort in 2023. 

It was a fascinating trip and one I recommend for anyone considering “hopping over the pond” to do.