Irish dairy wins Baileys contract

Lakeland Dairies, Ireland's fourth largest dairy processor, has won a contract to supply cream for the production of Baileys.

The processors announced on Tuesday of this week that it had won the contract to supply cream to the company Diageo that makes the alcoholic Irish whiskey cream drink.

Baileys is one of Ireland's best known drinks and 50 million gallons of milk annually from various processors across the country is produced for Baileys.

For example, the Irish dairy company, Glanbia, also holds a contract to supply Diageo with the cream for the alcholic drink. But the newly won Lakeland contract allows the group to supply milk to either Belfast or Dublin, depending on Bailey's requirements.Increased sales of Baileys in recent years has led to the production of a new factory in Belfast last year.

Lakeland Dairies has not indicated the value of the contract agreed with the company. The dairy producer will deliver cream in insulated tanks to Belfast manufacturing sites and will be processed on the day of arrival.

Baileys Irish Cream accounts for 50 per cent of Irish spirit exports annually. Diageo is the world leading premium drinks company and Baileys is sold in 130 countries worldwide.