Kinisla Unveils €300 Million Investment Following Rebranding from Kerry Dairy Ireland
Kerry Dairy Ireland, previously a part of Kerry Group Plc, has officially rebranded itself as Kinisla following its acquisition by Kerry Co-op members. This rebranding was accompanied by the announcement of a €300 million capital investment plan aimed at expanding the company’s reach in the nutrition and ingredients sector. The announcement was made at an event in Listowel, Co Kerry, attended by several governmental officials including Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD.
The investment is set to create 100 new jobs over the next 12 to 24 months and will focus on meeting the increased demand for protein, particularly from GLP1 drug users. GLP1 medications, used for weight loss, require users to maintain a high protein intake. Kinisla CEO Pat Murphy highlighted the increased demand for dairy proteins as a result of these dietary needs. He cited that as many as 12% to 15% of American consumers are on GLP1s, with similar trends emerging in Europe.
In addition to targeting the nutrition and ingredients division, Kinisla plans to invest in its consumer brands division, exploring both organic growth and acquisitions. The company's Chief Financial Officer Richard Chute emphasized the focus on these two priority areas.
Financial results for 2025 show that Kinisla, in its first year as a standalone entity, achieved a turnover of €1.4 billion with an EBITDA of €86.8 million. This performance was bolstered by strong global milk prices, particularly in the first half of the year, and a 5.2% increase in milk volumes processed, reaching over 1.2 billion litres.
Despite rising energy costs and increased global dairy supply exerting pressure on prices, Kinisla aims to maintain competitive milk pricing. The company's chairman, James Tangney, underscored the importance of supporting milk suppliers, stating that providing lasting value for farmers and rural communities remains a priority.
The transition of the dairy business back to Kerry Co-op members resolves a strategic impasse that began in 2021. Kerry Group's sale of its dairy unit allows it to focus on its higher-margin global flavours and nutrition business.
