Lakeland Dairies has announced today that it plans to close three of its facilities over the next 16 months in order to cut overhead expenses.
It’s understood about 78 jobs will be impacted.
The cooperative has said that the plan is part of a new strategic direction and will mean “realigning its processing footprint to maximise operational efficiencies and enhance value add capabilities for the future” Between now and quarter one of 2025, significant change will be implemented across the Lakeland Dairies business. It is supplied by 3,200 farm families who produce two billion litres of high-quality milk annually.
The co-op board has said that “an integral component of this new operational direction is optimising the Lakeland Dairies processing footprint to ensure that the co-op is best placed to serve the needs of its loyal customer base and to continue to support its farm families”. The closures will be carried out against what the co-op said is “the backdrop of evolving environmental realities and regulatory direction from a milk supply perspective”.
The Board of Lakeland Dairies has approved a plan where liquid milk production will transfer from Lakeland Dairies Monaghan to Lakeland Dairies Killeshandra, Co. Cavan. All other bulk milk-handling activities will transfer to other Lakeland Dairies sites. This will result in the closure of the Monaghan site in quarter one 2025 as a major development project will now
commence at Lakeland Dairies Killeshandra to process liquid milk there.
It is envisaged that, following the ending of production in quarter one 2025, a process to sell the Monaghan site will take place. Milk drying facilities at Lough Egish, Co. Monaghan will close in June 2024. Milk will continue to be processed at other sites, namely Lakeland Dairies Bailieboro and Killeshandra co. Cavan, Newtownards, Co. Down, Ballyrashane Co. Derry and Artigarvan, Co. Tyrone.
Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, has said supports will be put in place to assist workers impacted by the decision by Lakeland Dairies to close three of its sites. Minister Humphreys was responding to the announcement by the company, which has offices in County Monaghan, County Cavan and other parts of the border region.
The company said that it anticipates 78 jobs will be impacted and that it has commenced a consultation process with staff and their unions. In a statement this evening, Minister Humphreys expressed her disappointment at the news.
She said that, similar to other redundancy situations, the Department of Social Protection will put in place a range of supports to assist any staff member impacted by the decision. “My thoughts, first and foremost, are with the workers at Lakeland Dairies and their families as they come to terms with this devastating news. “Lakeland Dairies is a very important employer in my own home County of Monaghan and throughout the border region. “Any decision by such a company to make staff redundant is deeply disappointing.
“I want the workers at Lakeland Dairies to know that my Department of Social Protection is here to help them in any way we can in the weeks and months to come.
