Four of Ireland’s most prominent dairy companies feature highly in the dairy industry newsletter’s top 60 dairy companies operating in the UK. The Irish Dairy Board, Ornua, is in fifth place despite it reported losses. Ornua Foods and Ornua Nutrition Ingredients both reported losses, while Ornua butter and Ornua Ingredients UK had operating margins of 0.8% and 4.4% respectively.

The next Irish company on the list is Glanbia Cheese UK in 13th place, reporting a 4.3% operating margin. Dairygold Food Ingredients are in 24th place, with an operating margin of 1.7%. And Pritchett LE, owned by Lakeland, placed 26th.

Kerry Foods also has substantial dairy operations in the UK but is not reported yet.

Decline in prices

There was a sharp fall in prices across the sector but only four companies in the top 60 reported losses. A quarter of the companies on the list actually reported higher sales in 2016.

In first place on the list is UK arm of the Danish dairy co-op Arla Foods, German company Muller placed second and the first UK-owned company on the list is Dairy Crest in third place. In total 19 out of the top 60 had headquarters based outside of the UK.

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Irish dairy companies among the top in the UK

The dairy industry newsletter ranks the top 60 dairy companies in the UK by annual sales in the latest year. Four Irish companies feature in the list.