Arrabawn Tipperary Co-operative Society, the country’s newest co-op, was formally established at its inaugural board meeting today, consolidating the future of dairying for over 1,400 dairy farmers.
The meeting, held in Nenagh, followed separate meetings of the boards of outgoing merging co-ops, Arrabawn and Tipperary, earlier this week when the merger terms were formalised.
The society will be owned and controlled by over 4,800 members.
Over 1,400 farmers across 16 counties will supply the new co-op with 750 million litres of milk a year, with projected annual turnover of more than €700m.
The board has appointed Co Tipperary farmer Edward Carr as inaugural Chair of the co-op, with outgoing Arrabawn CEO Conor Ryan appointed as CEO.
Other appointments included Co Galway farmer Barry Donnelly as Vice-Chairperson and Billy Walsh, Toomevara to the role of Company Secretary.
Kevin Murray from Templederry and Eoin Doorley from Birr were also appointed to the new board’s management committee.
The new co-op will include two primary ingredient manufacturing facilities at Nenagh and Tipperary, processing almost 900 million litres of milk products a year as well as 15 agri trading stores, including flagship facilities at Nenagh, Tipperary Town and Athenry.
It also includes one of the country’s leading feed brands, Dan O’Connor Feeds, and French-based cheese production facility Tippagral.
CEO of the new entity Conor Ryan said this marked a pivotal day for dairying across its entire catchment, from the west to the south-east of Ireland.
“The merger is a natural evolution for both co-ops and sets us up positively for the future, enabling us to meet the market fluctuations that will inevitably come our way,” Mr Ryan said.
“We now set about ensuring the best possible transition into this new entity and look forward to delivering the growth and efficiencies that will create and sustain a competitive future for the co-op and its members,” he added.
Chairman of Arrabawn Tipperary Co-operative Society Edward Carr said the merger is a growth opportunity, and a natural coming together and consolidation of two neighbouring co-ops to create a more resilient and dynamic future for its members.
“It is also a tribute to the founding fathers of the various Co-ops that have combined over the past century and more, to ultimately create Arrabawn Tipperary Cooperative Society. Our job now as a board is to honour that legacy by building towards the future with the creation of a competitive new force in Irish dairying,” Mr Carr added.
