Kerry Dairy Suppliers Demand Full Milk Price Payment for 2024

Suppliers of Kerry Dairy Ireland, primarily members of the Munster Dairy Producer Organisation (MDPO), are insisting that both the milk processor and Kerry Co-op ensure the promised leading milk price payment for 2024 is fully honored. This comes as a result of what interim chairperson James Doyle described as "desperation, frustration and a lack of representation."

The MDPO, citing payments received by suppliers of other processors and co-ops, claims that a top-up of 1.45c/L is owed for milk supplied in 2024, referred to as the 13th payment. This demand highlights tensions, especially since Kerry Dairy Ireland has not yet confirmed the payment amount.

The producer group emphasized the need for this payment to apply to all milk supplied, contrasting the controversial €50 million fund paid on contracted volumes, rather than all volumes supplied for the years 2015-2020. This discrepancy creates dissatisfaction as the payment is inclusive of VAT, which the MDPO estimates reduces the fund to €47.57 million.

MDPO's Doyle stressed the importance of contacting local Kerry Co-op board members to ensure the full payment is made, stating, "We have a job to do to protect our milk suppliers."