North Cork Creameries is to cease milk processing at its plant in Kanturk, Co. Cork with the loss of up to 98 jobs, the Irish Farmers Journal can reveal.
It is understood that a new long-term commercial arrangement with Carbery Group is in place for a period of 10 years for 100m litres of milk.
It is also understood that the decision to close the Kanturk facility was made by North Cork on the back of another forced closure of the waste water treatment plant by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on 19 February.
North Cork Creameries will still retain its identity and independence, but in terms of a dairy co-op it will no longer have any of its own functioning milk processing facilities.
Milk pool
Essentially, North Cork will become a milk pool, much like the Moyvane, Co. Kerry, based suppliers to the co-op who used to be part of Newtownsandes Co-op.
In 2024, North Cork processed 238m litres of milk with 82m litres of this coming directly from North Cork suppliers.
The remainder was purchased from Strathroy, Limerick Liquid Milk Producers and neighbouring co-ops during the winter season.
The Irish Farmers Journal understands that direct suppliers to North Cork will receive a discounted milk price based off the Carbery milk price, with the exact details yet to be confirmed.
It is believed that a figure of close to 1c/l less than the Carbery price is being discussed.
Details
It is not yet known whether the Limerick-based suppliers are included in this deal or not. They currently have two years left in their milk supply contract with North Cork.
The chair of North Cork Creameries Thomas O’Donoghue resigned from his position at a board meeting on Tuesday night over what is understood to be disagreement over the future direction of North Cork.
North Cork Creameries paid the lowest price for milk in 2025 while Carbery paid the highest price, according to the Irish Farmers Journal monthly milk league.
More to follow.
Read more
EPA suspends North Cork Creameries from discharging wastewater
Carbery to process milk on behalf of North Cork Creameries
North Cork Creameries is to cease milk processing at its plant in Kanturk, Co. Cork with the loss of up to 98 jobs, the Irish Farmers Journal can reveal.
It is understood that a new long-term commercial arrangement with Carbery Group is in place for a period of 10 years for 100m litres of milk.
It is also understood that the decision to close the Kanturk facility was made by North Cork on the back of another forced closure of the waste water treatment plant by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on 19 February.
North Cork Creameries will still retain its identity and independence, but in terms of a dairy co-op it will no longer have any of its own functioning milk processing facilities.
Milk pool
Essentially, North Cork will become a milk pool, much like the Moyvane, Co. Kerry, based suppliers to the co-op who used to be part of Newtownsandes Co-op.
In 2024, North Cork processed 238m litres of milk with 82m litres of this coming directly from North Cork suppliers.
The remainder was purchased from Strathroy, Limerick Liquid Milk Producers and neighbouring co-ops during the winter season.
The Irish Farmers Journal understands that direct suppliers to North Cork will receive a discounted milk price based off the Carbery milk price, with the exact details yet to be confirmed.
It is believed that a figure of close to 1c/l less than the Carbery price is being discussed.
Details
It is not yet known whether the Limerick-based suppliers are included in this deal or not. They currently have two years left in their milk supply contract with North Cork.
The chair of North Cork Creameries Thomas O’Donoghue resigned from his position at a board meeting on Tuesday night over what is understood to be disagreement over the future direction of North Cork.
North Cork Creameries paid the lowest price for milk in 2025 while Carbery paid the highest price, according to the Irish Farmers Journal monthly milk league.
More to follow.
Read more
EPA suspends North Cork Creameries from discharging wastewater
Carbery to process milk on behalf of North Cork Creameries
SHARING OPTIONS