A word from our CEO

Welcome to the National Dairy Council website.

This is, undoubtedly, an exciting time to be involved in the dairy industry in Ireland. Dairy: Food for Life, the NDC's five-year development plan 2008-2012), aims to maximise the impact of the Irish dairy industry in the home market, building relationships of trust with the Irish consumer and delivering greater value to all stakeholders within the industry.

The opportunities and the challenges are clear: While Ireland continues to lead in consumption per capita of milk within the EU, there is no doubt that we are operating in a mature market and one where complacency will inevitably lead to decline.

Equally, the opportunities that exist within the dairy category as a whole in light of the current health and wellness trend, offer the potential to strengthen the performance of the dairy sector. With the looming obesity crisis, particularly amongst the younger population, the timing of this strategy is very apt as we seek to proactively promote locally produced, wholesome, nutritious milk and dairy products.

My vision for the NDC is an organisation that has respect and credibility within the industry, is capable and dynamic in how it undertakes its business and continually strives to innovate and lead the way with a fresh approach.

I am thoroughly enjoying the challenge of implementing our ambitious strategy and developing opportunities for co-operation with related food bodies in Ireland and with respective dairy councils overseas.

We will only succeed in our objectives of creating a positive environment for the Irish dairy industry by working together. By engaging with consumers with a unified voice and with an emphasis on the scientific credibility of what we say, we can develop a vibrant and responsive industry and counter what is possibly our single greatest obstacle: misinformation.

Finally, I would like to thank the members of the Board for their commitment, time and effort in supporting the strategy review and development process. The strength of the NDC lies in the calibre of the people who support it and I have no doubt that we have a team of exceptional capability in place to deliver our commitments to the Irish dairy farmer and the Irish consumer.

Helen Brophy
Chief Executive