Carbery boss outlines further growth potential

BY JOHN SEXTON

‘WE have a very solid business which is suitable for further growth,’ stated Dan MacSweeney, CEO of the Carbery Group, when delivering the keynote address to the annual general meeting of the Barryroe Co-Operative Society, at the Community Hall, Timoleague, recently. 

In the course of a lengthy presentation, he outlined the various markets which Carbery have built up all over the world, most especially in the United States and in China. He presented an illustration of a massive factory, Synergy, which they have set up near Chicago, and mentioned the various sites which they operate their ingredients and flavours businesses from in the US, UK, EU and Asia.  

While the factory in Ballineen was set up 50 years ago for the manufacture of cheddar cheese with an output of 250 tons per day, it has diversified to several other brands, including the ever-popular Dubliner Cheese, which is very attractive and commands a big slice of the market. However, he said that it was their decision to enter the ingredient and flavour markets that set them-up as the prime dairy processor in the country. 

He said that stands at exhibitions in France, Germany and China have greatly enhanced their sales in these countries. They are at present in the process of presenting chilled cheese slices for a section of the German market, while their whey products are in keen demand in China. 

The brand which has given them the greatest boost is Synergy, whose products are in constant demand both at home and abroad. It’s the returns from all these products that have enabled Carbery to be leaders in the price of milk. 

In thanking Dan MacSweeney for his presentation, Peter Fleming , chairman of Barryroe Co-Op), referred to him as a man of extradionary vision whose foresight has enriched the co-op and its milk suppliers.