Lakeland Dairies is to officially open its new €10m global logistics centre at its major dairy foodservice manufacturing plant in Co. Down tomorrow (September 2).

The plant employs 200 people in Pritchitts in Newtownards, Co. Down.

Lakeland said that the €10m investment underpins the export potential and market access for valued-added dairy products made using locally produced milk.

The keynote event will be attended by the Group CEO of Lakeland Dairies, Michael Hanley and the entire Board of the co-operative along with Chairman, Alo Duffy.

A range of dairy industry leaders and public representatives will also attend, Lakeland said.

Lakeland Dairies also recently announced two major new joint venture operations with Fane Valley across both co-ops’ dairy and agribusiness divisions.

Lakeland said that the joint ventures will have combined revenues of over €845m.

The major new global logistics centre will underpin its current and future export led growth and it is highly automated with new technology, robotic systems, over 14,000 individual pallet spaces and a simultaneous loading capacity for up to 11 forty-foot container vehicles at any one time, Lakeland said.

Lakeland Dairies farmers awarded for high-milk quality

Dairy farmers from both Northern Ireland and the Republic won top honours for the exceptionally high quality of milk produced on their farms at the recent Lakeland Dairies Milk Quality Awards.

The awards publicly recognised the achievements of Lakeland Dairies milk suppliers who are committed to efficiency and quality in all aspects of their milk production.

The winners were identified from a group of over 2,100 farmer milk suppliers to Lakeland Dairies.

Results

Ivor Smyth, Countenan, Cavan, won the Lakeland Dairies Supreme Milk Quality Award and also won the 0 – 400,000L milk production category. The runner-up in this category was Lorcan McAdam, Leggacurry, Ballybay, Co. Monaghan.
Thomas Loughrey, Ballinredra, Multyfarnham, Co. Westmeath won the 400,000+L milk production category, closely followed by runner-up Brian Burgess, Lattycrum, Co. Monaghan.
In the category for New Entrants to Dairy Farming, Bernard Reilly, Carnaross, Kells, Co. Meath won this award for exceptional milk quality.
The overall Northern Ireland Milk Quality Award Winners are John Smith Snr and John Smith Jnr, Ballyholland, Newry, Co. Down. The Northern Ireland runner-up was Adrian Kyle, Aughnacloy, Co. Tyrone.