THE IRISH Dairy Board (IDB) is to merge its UK consumer subsidiaries, the Kerrygold Company and North Downs Dairy, to create one consumer foods business, Adams Foods Ltd, writes Seán Mac Connell.

This will combine the marketing capability of both organisations to grow the Kerrygold and Pilgrims Choice brands and allow the two cheese-packing operations to deliver the broadest range of pre-packed hard cheeses to the UK market efficiently, the board said.

Adams Foods will be the largest market supplier of hard cheese and will have an annual turnover in the region of €400 million.

The merger will take effect from October 3rd next.