Kerrygold in from the cold with retail giants

Kerrygold butter has made a return to the shelves of Dunnes Stores and Tesco following a brief exile due to a row over price.

Dunnes Stores – as well as fellow retail giant Tesco – removed the butter brand from shelves two weeks ago, allegedly due to the high prices the processor was demanding.

Both retail chains have now apparently restored the brand to sell in their stores, with Tesco offering Kerrygold butter in 454g and 227g blocks, along with its ‘Softer Butter’ 500g tubs.

Kerrygold is advertised by the retailer at €3.75 for its 454g block (€8.26/kg) and €2.09 for its 227g offering. This is marginally the highest priced ‘real’ butter on offer with Tesco, except for one organic label, with other similar products coming in slightly cheaper.

Comparable alternatives included:

Tesco (own brand) Irish Creamery Butter (445g) – €2.19 or €4.83/kg;
Avonmore Unsalted Butter (227g) – €1.50 or €6.61/kg;
Connacht Gold Fresh Butter (454g) – €3.30 or €7.27/kg;
Glenstal Irish Creamery Salted Butter (454g) – €3.59 or €7.91/kg;
Tesco Organic Salted Block Butter (250g) – €2.49 or €9.96/kg.

Kerrygold returns to Wisconsin

In other news, this time from across the Atlantic, Ornua – owner of the Kerrygold brand – confirmed last week that the entity will return to the shelves of retailers in the US state of Wisconsin.

Commenting on the matter, Jeanne Kelly, a spokesperson for the Irish brand, said: “During our time away, we have been overwhelmed by the support of our loyal customers. From emails, Facebook posts, tweets and letters, we would like to thank all who took the time to tell us how much you wanted to see Kerrygold back in stores.

“Kerrygold would also like to thank the authorities in the state of Wisconsin for their assistance over recent months.”

Kerrygold is the number one imported butter brand in the United States and the number three branded butter overall, according to Ornua, which noted: “The distinctive, rich flavor of Kerrygold butter and cheese is much loved by home bakers, home chefs, and food connoisseurs in the US and throughout the world.”

Kerrygold had been pulled off shelves in Wisconsin back in February of this year, due to a 1970 law which protects butter producers.

The law had stated that it is unlawful to sell any butter in retailers unless it has been tested by industry experts and graded.

However, since Kerrygold is made in Ireland it means it is not graded in the US and was, under this law, illegal in the state of Wisconsin. In spite of this, the Irish processor had been able to sell the product for over a decade in the state before the law was enforced.