Navan-native is chair designate of Ornua dairy group

Kevin Toland to take over board of Kerrygold exporter

Navan native Kevin Toland has been appointed as chair-designate of Ornua, Ireland’s largest exporter of dairy products and owner of the Kerrygold brand.

Having served three years as chair of the board of directors, Aidan O’Driscoll had last year informed the board he would not seek to be reappointed to the position when his current term ends in May 2025.

Kevin Toland has been appointed as independent non-executive director and chair-designate of the board of directors. His appointment will take effect on 22nd May. Mr Toland has held a range of senior executive director and non-executive director roles across beverage, food, nutrition, and aviation sectors. He was previously Group CEO and board executive director of Cuisine de France owner, Aryzta AG and of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), and an executive director of Glanbia plc from 2003 to 2013. He is currently chair of Gas Networks Ireland and medical equipment manufacturer, Vasorum, and is a non-executive director of Dole plc, a global fresh produce provider.

Mr Toland is from Donaghmore, Navan, and is a graduate of the College of Commerce, Rathmines, Dublin. He then held a number of senior management positions with Coca-Cola bottlers in Russia and with Grand Metropolitan in Ireland and Central Europe previously, and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Management Accountants. Son of the late John and Mary Toland, he attended school in St Patrick's Classical School in Navan, completing his Leaving Certificate in 1982.

Congratulating Mr Toland on his appointment, Aidan O’Driscoll said: “Kevin has a breadth of experience demonstrated through his highly successful career across a range of sectors nationally and internationally, and is exceptionally well placed to lead the Ornua Board into the future.”

Formerly the Irish Dairy Board, Ornua is an Irish dairy co-operative that markets and sells dairy products on behalf of its member co-operatives, Ireland’s dairy processors and dairy farmers. Headquartered in Dublin, Ornua has a strong global team of 2,800 employees, operating from 10 business units worldwide, including 13 production facilities.

The group is structured across two divisions: Ornua Foods and Ornua Ingredients. Ornua Foods is responsible for international marketing and sales of Ornua’s consumer brands, including Kerrygold, as well as Kerrygold Dubliner, Pilgrims Choice, Forto and BEO milk powders. Ornua Ingredients is responsible for the procurement of Irish and non-Irish dairy products, for the sale of dairy ingredients to food manufacturing and foodservice customers across the world, and for managing volatility through de-risking and trading strategies.

Publishing Ornua's full-year results for 2024 last week, CEO, Conor Galvin, said: “I am pleased to report a solid business performance for 2024 in which group turnover was €3.4 billion and operative profit was up 11.8 per cent on the previous year. Our teams around the globe responded well to difficult market conditions to deliver for our member co-operatives, our customer partners, and the consumers that enjoy our products. I am proud to see Ornua continue to achieve its mission of providing Irish dairy farmers with a trusted route to value, resulting in over €2 billion in premium Irish dairy product purchases in the year."

Kerrygold has strengthened its standing as Ireland’s most successful food brand, with over 12 million retail packs of butter and cheese sold globally each week in 2024. The brand’s continued growth has been greatly supported by the robust retail sales performance in the United States.

"Following a complex year, we are now entering a period of much uncertainty driven by ongoing global trade tensions," Mr Galvin stated. "The exact impact of these challenges remains to be seen, however, we are confident in the strength of Irish dairy which is a unique and sought-after proposition on the world stage. We have premium brands and food ingredients that are enjoyed globally, thanks to the qualities of the Irish grass-based dairy farming system, the hard work of Irish producers and processors, and the unique strengths of our co-operative business model.”

In the US, Kerrygold continued to experience volume sales growth, further strengthening its position as the number two branded butter in the world’s largest consumer market. Kerrygold reached a record number of US households in the year, supported by the introduction of a new 1lb butter block, representing a category first in the market. Kerrygold Park, the global home of Kerrygold butter production, had a record year in terms of output following its first full operational year after the completion of a major expansion project in 2023. In the UK, Kerrygold ended 2024 as the number two block butter brand and the fastest-growing brand in the category.

The global dairy market experienced a year of mixed fortunes overall. The first half saw a slight dip in milk supply, but a recovery in the latter half left annual supply flat overall. European retail sales remained healthy despite inflation, with cheese outperforming butter and own-label products gaining traction. The foodservice sector struggled to regain momentum. Global dairy exports were stable, but the demand-supply dynamic, coupled with buyers' reluctance to hold high-priced stocks, resulted in a spike in commodity prices. European milk prices rose steadily, driven by strong butter prices, and remained above the five-year average.

This year marks 10 years since Ornua’s rebrand from the Irish Dairy Board, in line with the removal of milk quotas. In that 10-year period, the global retail sales value of Kerrygold has more than doubled, supported by investment in the brand, its portfolio, and production capacity.

While the outlook for the months ahead is uncertain, driven by ongoing geopolitical and trade tensions, the first quarter of 2025 has been relatively positive for Irish dairy and the Ornua business., which looks well-positioned to continue navigating the complexities for its member co-operatives.