In 2023, Ireland exported approximately 1.64 million metric tonnes of dairy products, a testament to the premium quality and popularity of Irish butter, cheese, yoghurt and other dairy-based ingredients. The dairy farming business in Ireland is largely a family-owned one going back over generations, with most farmers being shareholders of large milk cooperatives, whose goals are to return as much profit as possible to its farmers. The country’s location on the edge of Western Europe protects it from much of Continental Europe’s severe weather while the Atlantic Ocean prevents temperature extremes. These factors along with abundant rainfall and Ireland’s fertile soil results in lush, nutritious grasslands, which herds graze on for an average of 240 days of the year.
Bord Bia steps into the picture to guide dairy farmers on keys areas such as grassland management, and farm health and safety. Established in 1994, this government agency is tasked with marketing and promoting Irish food and drink globally. Its national sustainability programme known as Origin Green connects farmers, food manufacturers, retailers and food service operators with the sole intent of sustainable food production. Under Origin Green, member farms are audited every 18 months covering everything from herd welfare and food safety to greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and carbon footprint. The reports generated help farmers understand how their operations contribute to GHGs and ways they can reduce emissions while improving production efficiencies at the same time. The programme also encourages farmers to rewild areas on their lands to increase biodiversity, minimise the use of nitrogen fertiliser on farmland and increase the amount of time they keep their herds outdoors (more time outdoors translates to more time grazing on nutritious grasses and happier cows, which results in milk that is richer in fat and protein).
Rewilding areas on farms increases biodiversity, which is better for the environment
Glenisk Organic Protein Yogurt is ideal for breakfast or as a post-workout snack
Irish butter has a distinct yellow colour due to the beta-carotene in the grass which accounts for 95 per cent of an Irish cow’s diet. It also has an 82 per cent fat minimum, which is what makes it so rich and delicious. Spinneys stocks Kerrygold butter, which is produced by Ornua, an Irish dairy co-operative that is also Ireland’s largest exporter of domestic dairy products. It was founded over six decades ago with the aim of creating value for Irish farming families. Today Ornua represents the majority of Ireland’s dairy processors, which in turn represent a community of 14,000 dairy farming families. Kerrygold butter’s creamy flavour has made it the number 1 branded butter in Germany and it currently sits at number 2 in the USA.
Another Irish butter recently landed on Spinneys’ shelves – Do Me A Flavour butter. A family-owned business, Do Me A Flavour is based in Athlone, in the heart of Ireland. The brand specialises in crafting award-winning, flavoured butters as well as sauces, marinades and stuffings. All the butters are made from Irish grass-fed butter blended with an array of aromatic herbs and spices resulting in moreish flavours that pair beautifully with steaks, roasted veggies, chicken and really anything savoury.
Kerrygold butter stands out for its distinct colour and rich, creamy flavour
Farmers are investing in clean energy sources
The rise in the popularity of high-protein products in recent years driven by social media trends on TikTok and Instagram has created a surge in protein-rich dairy products in the market. Glenisk represents the Emerald Isle’s high-protein yoghurt at Spinneys. Also an award-winning family-owned and operated organic dairy company, Glenisk was set up in 1987 with a simple motto to offer dairy-based products without any artificial ingredients. The Glenisk Organic Protein Yogurt, available in natural and fruit flavours at Spinneys, is strained following Greek and Icelandic methods, contains only naturally occurring milk and fruit sugars and is completely fat- and gluten-free. We also stock Glenisk Organic kids and baby yogurts made with organic Irish milk and fruit purées.
And finally, we have Irish cheese under the Spinneysfood label crafted by yet another Irish business based in Murroe, County Limerick. Set up in 1995, Glenstal Foods makes our range of mild, red, mature and extra mature Cheddar cheeses as well as Spinneysfood Emmental. Through a detailed process which involved identifying the levels of maturity and exact flavours of Cheddar favoured by Spinneys’ customer base, the team at Glenstal hit upon precise recipes and began delivering cheese under our private label brand in 2024.
