A delegation from the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) is due to meet with Kinisla management this week to discuss farmer concerns in relation to the co-op's new milk supply contract.

It comes as over 80 farmers attended an IFA meeting at the Rose Hotel in Tralee, Co. Kerry last night (Monday, July 6) where issues about the new contract were discussed.

The IFA held a similar meeting earlier in the day in Limerick for suppliers.

Kinisla presented a new contract to milk suppliers in April, replacing the previous contract, which expired on April 30.

Suppliers have been given until August 4 to sign the new contract.

In December 2024, shareholders in both Kerry Group and Kerry Co-op voted to approve a €500 million deal for the co-op to acquire Kerry Group's dairy business, Kerry Dairy Ireland (now known as Kinisla).

Kerry Co-op currently has a 70% stake in Kinisla, with the remaining 30% held by Kerry Group.

Milk contracts

Last night's meeting was addressed by solicitor and IFA legal counsel James Staines who presented a detailed overview of the new contract.

He said that when he was asked to examine the document, he looked at similar agreements from Tirlán, Aurivo, Lakeland and Dairygold for comparison.

Staines also said he examined the previous Kerry milk supply contract.

Aine O'Connell, IFA dairy executive, told the meeting that the IFA remains "impartial" when it comes to any agreements or decisions to be made by co-ops across the country.

"Our role is provide information and to facilitate information exchange. So that is why we're here tonight," she said.

O'Connell said they respected the autonomy of farmers to decide for themselves whether or not they want to sign the contract.

She added that IFA will try to help people who do not want to sign the contract.

Meeting

Farmers at the meeting said that Kinisla's full accounts for 2025 should be published ahead of the deadline for the contract to be signed.

A spokesperson for Kinisla previously told Agriland: "Kinisla have reported their preliminary results and are in the midst of finalising the audit; financial statements will be filed later in the year in accordance with statutory filing deadlines".

The meeting heard multiple calls for more clarity around Kerry Creameries Limited, the subsidary of Kinisla with whom the milk supply contract is with.

Farmers also asked if they are a co-op member would their milk still be collected if they do not sign a contract.

Kinisla

Speaking with Agriland after the meeting, Kerry IFA chair Jason Fleming said the level of attendance at the meeting "shows the concern on the ground".

"That's why we had the meeting tonight. A lot of farmers were ringing us over the last couple of weeks asking us to hold a meeting," he said.

Fleming said a Kerry IFA delegation is due to meet with Kinisla's chief executive officer (CEO), Pat Murphy and director of agribusiness and sustainability James O'Connell tomorrow (Wednesday, July 8).

"We'll be bringing the main issues of tonight's meeting and try to get answers. If we have to hold another meeting on it, we will and get back to farmers on the ground," he added.