Quinn’s of Baltinglass, the Wicklow-based agri-merchant, saw double-digit growth in animal feed sales last year due to the fodder crisis.

Recently filed accounts show that Quinn’s feed manufacture and distribution business had sales of €15.2m for the 12-month period to the end of June 2018, which is 18% ahead of last year and reflective of the strong demand for animal feed last spring. Quinn’s reported overall sales of €104.2m for its 2018 financial year, up 3% on the previous year. The company’s agri-trading division accounted for the majority of turnover at €86m, while its cereal and seed dressings business had sales of €3.2m last year.

Operating profits at Quinn’s increased by 16% in 2018 to reach €3.2m as profit margins widened from 2.8% in 2017 to a solid 3.1% last year. Pre-tax profits increased 15% last year to just under €3m. Quinn’s is one of the largest buyers of grain in the country, purchasing almost 200,000t every year. It produces over 50,000t of animal feed annually.