Dairy group Ornua has hailed the success of its Kerrygold line which it claims has become the first Irish food brand to reach and surpass €1bn in annual retail sales value.
The Kerrygold brand was created by Sir Anthony O’Reilly, CEO of what was then called An Bord Bainne, in 1962. His vision was to establish Kerrygold as a premium brand, befitting the rich quality of Irish milk.
Today, Kerrygold is an international household name with 7.5 million packets of its iconic gold foil butter sold each week. It is the No. 2 butter brand in the US and the No. 1 in Germany.
Róisín Hennerty, Managing Director of Ornua Food, commented: “Today represents a special day for the dairy industry with Kerrygold exceeding €1bn in annual retail sales. While Kerrygold holds a unique place in the hearts of the Irish people, we are especially proud that the brand has captured the hearts and imagination of consumers all over the world.
“The future is bright for Kerrygold – our unique connection to our consumers coupled with our way of farming and our members’ expertise will drive the next generation of success.”
