The competition authority has given the all clear to the merger of Kanturk-based dairy co-op North Cork and the Feale Bridge & Headley Bridge co-op, which is based in Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick. The boards of both co-ops formally agreed to a merger in early 2018, with members of Feale Bridge & Headley Bridge co-op becoming full members of North Cork.

Both co-ops already work closely together in a commercial dairy processing arrangement whereby North Cork processes 12.5m litres of milk into a range of products for Feale Bridge & Headley Bridge. For its 2016 financial year, North Cork generated annual sales of €68m, while profits increased fivefold to €290,000.

North Cork processed 111m litres of milk in 2016, with about 43m litres coming directly from its 140 farmer suppliers.

North Cork is also currently engaged in merger talks with Newtownsandes, a Kerry-based co-op whose 70-odd members produce up to 23m litres of milk every year. Newtownsandes co-op is looking for a new processing partner after Kerry Group announced it would cease processing Newtownsandes milk from early 2018.