KERRYGOLD, THE international food brand owned by the Irish Dairy Board, has reported sales ahead of targets for the year.

New figures show that the brand – which will celebrate its 50th birthday in 2012 – gained market share in Germany in 2010.

Market data from Nielsen’s showed that Kerrygold is currently trading at a record high in Germany with a 13.5 per cent stake of the total German butter market.

The boost in sales was in part due to the introduction of a new spreadable product, Kerrygold Extra, which was launched in 2009.

Sales to the German market stood at approximately €175 million in 2010, €20 million of which related to the sales of Kerrygold Extra.

While the Irish Dairy Board does not break down specific figures for each of its brands, in 2009 its branded offerings generated sales of €475 million. This figure includes sales of Kerrygold, Dubliner cheese and Pilgrim’s Choice in the UK.

Kerrygold is exported to 50 countries. Germany is the brand’s leading export market, followed by the UK. Last week Kerrygold reported its highest ever weekly sales in Germany with six million retail packs (250 grams) of Irish butter being sold.

The Irish Dairy Board is the country’s main exporter of Irish dairy products.

Formed in 1961, it is owned by its member co-operatives and dairy companies, and exports approximately 60 per cent of all the dairy exports from Ireland. It also owns the Kerrygold brand.

In 2009 the Irish Dairy Board had a turnover of €1.8 billion.