Irish Dairy Board to Open New Plant in Algeria
The Irish Dairy Board (IDB) has commissioned a new dedicated state-of-the-art value added dairy packaging plant for its Kerrygold brand in Algeria. The IDB has also just opened an office in Oran, Algeria. The developments mark the first in a series of international expansions by the IDB in the coming years as it develops routes to market for Irish dairy products consistent with its strategic growth plans and the ambitious targets set out in the Irish Government’s Food Harvest 2020 Report.
The new representative office will provide an enhanced in-market presence in Algeria as well as a critical base from which to develop and extend the IDB’s footprint in North Africa- a market of almost 200 million consumers. The Kerrygold range of Irish dairy products has grown consistently since its launch in Algeria three years ago.
Kevin Lane, chief executive of IDB.
Comprising 35 million consumers, Algeria is already the IDB’s second largest market for cheese. The new facility has the capacity to pack 4,000 tonnes of Kerrygold product per annum, with plans to further develop this in the coming years as the IDB develops its market presence and Irish milk production grows.
The plant will add further value to a range of Irish milk powder products which will be marketed under the Kerrygold brand. The plant complements the IDB’s existing in-market distribution team and further strengthens its position in the market. It will provide increased flexibility and expands the range of Kerrygold product available to Algerian consumers.
“This investment inAlgeriais in line with our stated objective of growing the IDB’s presence in emerging markets not least given the expected expansion of Irish dairy output after the removal of milk quota restrictions in 2015,” says Kevin Lane, chief executive of IDB.
