Northern Irish Dairy Business Exports to Africa

Dale Farm, Northern Ireland's biggest dairy operation, has won export business in Africa worth more than £4 million. The company secured business for its enriched milk powders from its participation at the Anuga International Food Exhibition in Cologne earlier in the month.



The African contract follows a recent £40 million investment by Dale Farm in its Northern Irish processing plants. The investment has been led to growing domestic and export sales in a number of new whey and milk powder based nutritional products. It also has processing operations in England and Scotland.

The company, Northern Ireland's largest farmer co-operative, within United Dairy Farmers.



Dr David Dobbin, Dale Farm's group chief executive, says: "The high quality of Northern Ireland milk and dairy products means that international buyers have confidence in our products.



"Our initial meeting with this customer took place at the Gulfood Exhibition in Dubai earlier this year, which we also attended with Invest Northern Ireland. That initial lead has resulted in the export contract at the Anuga show to supply over £4 million of enriched milk powders to countries including Angola and Congo."



Dale Farm sells to over 45 countries worldwide including China, Russia, the Middle East, North Africa and Southern America. The company has also won business for its cheese from discounter Lidl for stores in Europe.