Kitchen tables from New York to Nashville have been embracing Kerrygold butter and cheese for over 30 years.
Today Kerrygold is the number two butter brand in the USA and the fastest growing brand in the butter category.
An imported, premium brand achieving that level of success is no fluke.
It is down to the unique grass-fed advantage of Irish dairy and the painstaking high standards of 14,000 Irish family dairy farms whose milk provides the foundation for every block of butter and wedge of cheese enjoyed by one in six households in the US.
Grass-fed is the new gold standard
Despite the challenges of a dynamic market environment, US consumers’ appetite for Irish grass-fed butter remains as strong as ever.
They see grass-fed as the gold standard for natural quality, and in an increasingly competitive market, Kerrygold stands out as a premium, clean label product that is worth paying more for.
Irish grass-fed milk gives Kerrygold butter a golden colour, creamy texture, and distinctive flavour that US shoppers simply can’t find elsewhere, be it across the domestic range or other imported butters.
Combining that unique proposition with the powerful message of Ireland’s time-honoured family farming tradition and the impeccably high standards of care for animals and the environment that Irish farmers uphold, makes Kerrygold peerless on grocery store shelves nationwide.
Currently, Kerrygold is the only grass-fed dairy brand with scale in the US.
Lindsay Brady, president Ornua Foods North America.
Reaching this position has taken time – Kerrygold first shipped one pallet of butter to the US in 1999. Today it is a billion-dollar brand in the US alone.
This success is underpinned by a strategic and robust focus on authentic marketing and commercial excellence, aimed at winning the hearts of US consumers and retailers.
We continually invest in both commercial and marketing activity to ensure we are building the brand in a way that delivers outsized impact for Ornua and results in strong returns for our farmer members.
Provenance matters
US shoppers increasingly want to know more about where their food comes from, how it’s produced, and whether it’s worth paying more for.
In a country where food production can feel distant, the Irish dairy farming story connects with US consumers who value provenance and traceability when making purchase decisions.
Kerrygold’s story resonates because it’s genuine and easy to understand.
It is grass-fed milk from family-owned Irish farms, produced in a sustainable way, and finished through world-class manufacturing at Kerrygold Park in Mitchelstown.
Foil wrapping for Kerrygold butter. / Ornua
Each year, we have the opportunity to bring key customers to Ireland to visit Kerrygold Park, which is the global home of our butter production, as well as the dairy farms behind the brand.
Nothing beats experiencing the production process up close and the interface with farmers that helps build knowledge, trust, and appreciation.
We work hand-in-hand with our valued retail partners to build long-term strategies, expand distribution, bring excitement and a premium edge to a traditionally commoditised category, and deliver distinction across merchandising and pricing.
That’s how we ensure the Kerrygold brand not only broadens its foothold to reach more consumers, but also delivers strong returns for Ornua member co-operatives and farmers.
Moving with the times
Although we have a tried and tested formula, we never revert to type. Our strategy is rooted in the belief that Kerrygold is a timeless brand that moves with the times.
That means preserving the core proposition of Irish grass-fed goodness that has earned Kerrygold a proud place in family homes across America, while staying in step with our consumers who are always changing and adapting in how they use and appreciate food.
Kerrygold butter bar.
This means understanding what motivates consumers to choose a brand and pay a premium for it and, from those insights, our activity across everything from digital-first communications campaigns to new product development and innovation is informed.
A recent example of this approach working is last year’s launch of the number one new product in the US butter category, a one-pound pack of butter sticks, the most popular format in US homes. Simple, yes, but incredibly effective.
Kerrygold’s success in the US isn’t just a commercial story, it’s a testament to generations of dedicated Irish dairy farmers, our grass-fed way of farming, and a unique co-operative model that works hard for farmers
It’s proof that when you listen to consumers and adapt smartly, even small changes can deliver impact. Another important factor in our US journey has been the endorsement of the people who know food best. Chefs, food writers, and culinary influencers have long championed Kerrygold – almost always without us asking them to do so. The support of this influential community has helped to open doors and grow the reputation of the brand in the US in a meaningful way.
Representing a way of life
On a personal level, it’s a tremendous honour to help grow Kerrygold in the US. Every time I meet Irish dairy farmers, I’m reminded of why this work matters. We’re not just selling butter, we’re representing a way of life that prioritises sustainability, stewardship, and deep respect for the land.
The pressure to deliver growth in such a competitive and dynamic market is real but it’s a privilege to carry that responsibility on behalf of Ornua and Ireland’s dairy families.
Kerrygold’s success in the US isn’t just a commercial story, it’s a testament to generations of dedicated Irish dairy farmers, our grass-fed way of farming, and a unique co-operative model that works hard for farmers.
Kerrygold butter.
Kitchen tables from New York to Nashville have been embracing Kerrygold butter and cheese for over 30 years.
Today Kerrygold is the number two butter brand in the USA and the fastest growing brand in the butter category.
An imported, premium brand achieving that level of success is no fluke.
It is down to the unique grass-fed advantage of Irish dairy and the painstaking high standards of 14,000 Irish family dairy farms whose milk provides the foundation for every block of butter and wedge of cheese enjoyed by one in six households in the US.
Grass-fed is the new gold standard
Despite the challenges of a dynamic market environment, US consumers’ appetite for Irish grass-fed butter remains as strong as ever.
They see grass-fed as the gold standard for natural quality, and in an increasingly competitive market, Kerrygold stands out as a premium, clean label product that is worth paying more for.
Irish grass-fed milk gives Kerrygold butter a golden colour, creamy texture, and distinctive flavour that US shoppers simply can’t find elsewhere, be it across the domestic range or other imported butters.
Combining that unique proposition with the powerful message of Ireland’s time-honoured family farming tradition and the impeccably high standards of care for animals and the environment that Irish farmers uphold, makes Kerrygold peerless on grocery store shelves nationwide.
Currently, Kerrygold is the only grass-fed dairy brand with scale in the US.
Lindsay Brady, president Ornua Foods North America.
Reaching this position has taken time – Kerrygold first shipped one pallet of butter to the US in 1999. Today it is a billion-dollar brand in the US alone.
This success is underpinned by a strategic and robust focus on authentic marketing and commercial excellence, aimed at winning the hearts of US consumers and retailers.
We continually invest in both commercial and marketing activity to ensure we are building the brand in a way that delivers outsized impact for Ornua and results in strong returns for our farmer members.
Provenance matters
US shoppers increasingly want to know more about where their food comes from, how it’s produced, and whether it’s worth paying more for.
In a country where food production can feel distant, the Irish dairy farming story connects with US consumers who value provenance and traceability when making purchase decisions.
Kerrygold’s story resonates because it’s genuine and easy to understand.
It is grass-fed milk from family-owned Irish farms, produced in a sustainable way, and finished through world-class manufacturing at Kerrygold Park in Mitchelstown.
Foil wrapping for Kerrygold butter. / Ornua
Each year, we have the opportunity to bring key customers to Ireland to visit Kerrygold Park, which is the global home of our butter production, as well as the dairy farms behind the brand.
Nothing beats experiencing the production process up close and the interface with farmers that helps build knowledge, trust, and appreciation.
We work hand-in-hand with our valued retail partners to build long-term strategies, expand distribution, bring excitement and a premium edge to a traditionally commoditised category, and deliver distinction across merchandising and pricing.
That’s how we ensure the Kerrygold brand not only broadens its foothold to reach more consumers, but also delivers strong returns for Ornua member co-operatives and farmers.
Moving with the times
Although we have a tried and tested formula, we never revert to type. Our strategy is rooted in the belief that Kerrygold is a timeless brand that moves with the times.
That means preserving the core proposition of Irish grass-fed goodness that has earned Kerrygold a proud place in family homes across America, while staying in step with our consumers who are always changing and adapting in how they use and appreciate food.
Kerrygold butter bar.
This means understanding what motivates consumers to choose a brand and pay a premium for it and, from those insights, our activity across everything from digital-first communications campaigns to new product development and innovation is informed.
A recent example of this approach working is last year’s launch of the number one new product in the US butter category, a one-pound pack of butter sticks, the most popular format in US homes. Simple, yes, but incredibly effective.
Kerrygold’s success in the US isn’t just a commercial story, it’s a testament to generations of dedicated Irish dairy farmers, our grass-fed way of farming, and a unique co-operative model that works hard for farmers
It’s proof that when you listen to consumers and adapt smartly, even small changes can deliver impact. Another important factor in our US journey has been the endorsement of the people who know food best. Chefs, food writers, and culinary influencers have long championed Kerrygold – almost always without us asking them to do so. The support of this influential community has helped to open doors and grow the reputation of the brand in the US in a meaningful way.
Representing a way of life
On a personal level, it’s a tremendous honour to help grow Kerrygold in the US. Every time I meet Irish dairy farmers, I’m reminded of why this work matters. We’re not just selling butter, we’re representing a way of life that prioritises sustainability, stewardship, and deep respect for the land.
The pressure to deliver growth in such a competitive and dynamic market is real but it’s a privilege to carry that responsibility on behalf of Ornua and Ireland’s dairy families.
Kerrygold’s success in the US isn’t just a commercial story, it’s a testament to generations of dedicated Irish dairy farmers, our grass-fed way of farming, and a unique co-operative model that works hard for farmers.
Kerrygold butter.
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