Coronavirus – Glanbia Ireland Update

We are continuing to closely monitor advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team. Farming and food production are classified as ‘essential’ industries. We take this responsibility very seriously. We are asking farmers, drivers, customers and other stakeholders to continue to undertake the important preventative measures to help protect you, your family and those visiting your farms.

Milk processing operations

All Glanbia Ireland facilities continue to operate to their planned capacity levels for this time of year. We are deeply appreciative of the great commitment of our workforce at this time.

Current weekly milk supply is around 70 million litres, which is slightly behind forecast due to the cold weather and sluggish grass growth. Our forecast for peak supply is over 90 million litres per week, so volumes will continue to ramp up in the coming weeks. In terms of tanker loads, we are collecting 2,600 loads per week currently and are planning for around 3,350 loads in peak week.

Through Dairy Industry Ireland (DII), we are collaborating with all stakeholders to make every possible effort to ensure that all milk produced on farms can continue to be processed and marketed.

However, it is important that suppliers are aware that a national public health emergency does create additional risks to Ireland’s processing capacity through peak season, so contingency plans for a range of scenarios have been prepared.

We can also assure you that huge work has been done in the plants to ensure that they are in the best possible position to handle the challenges ahead and to minimize the chances of any impact on milk collection. We have assembled a pool of back-up staff and have protocols in place across all the key areas.

As of today, we remain confident that we can continue to process all milk supplied in line with your supply forecast, but this is a very dynamic environment evolving on a daily basis, as you can appreciate. You can be assured that we will continue to keep you informed over the coming weeks.

We are also working very actively at Irish Government and EU level to protect your interests.

“Call & Collect” Service at Glanbia Agri branches

In advance of An Taoiseach’s announcement on Friday 27 March, Glanbia Ireland’s network of Agribusiness branches had switched to a ‘call and collect’ system. We would like to thank you for your cooperation with this new operating model at a very busy time. Our branch staff also deserve our praise.

Please place your orders for essential farm products from branches in advance by phone. In addition, you can place orders through business managers and our Customer Services Centre (1890 321 321). Furthermore, key farming products can be ordered from www.glanbiaconnect.com. To set up a Glanbia Connect account, please call 1890 100 017.

Thank you

Finally, we would like to express our thanks to our workforce, our farmers and our hauliers, along with their families, who are all giving enormous commitment to keep our supply chain and our facilities running. A special word of gratitude should also be extended to members of your families in the health service.

Please continue to look after yourselves and your families. We are committed to keeping you informed, so please ignore any speculation at this challenging time. If you have any concerns, please contact your local Glanbia representative.

FURTHER INFORMATION ON GLANBIA IRELAND CORONAVIRUS MEASURES BELOW:

• Glanbia Ireland has put in place measures to continue to provide vital services for the farming community. Read more here.
• Glanbia Ireland’s network of Agribusiness branches is now switching to a ‘call and collect’ system to protect vital services for our farming community and loyal customers. Read more here.
• Farmers are requested to implement a series of hygiene measures at all times. Read more here.
• All on-farm biosecurity plans should be reviewed with only business-essential visits permitted on farm. Read more here.
• Glanbia Ireland has temporarily halted the acceptance of milk samples delivered by farmers in person to our various processing sites for transportation onwards to the laboratory service in Dungarvan. Read more here.

First Published 6 April 2020