Yoghurt producer Glenisk, whose factory was destroyed by fire last September, grew sales by 15% in 2020 to €27.8m.

Glenisk is Ireland’s largest producer of organic yoghurt and the company recently recommenced production on a modest scale.

The blaze at the manufacturing facility at Killeigh, Tullamore, destroyed the manufacturing plant and stocks.

The Cleary family-controlled company estimated the cost of the damage at c.€20m.

Glenisk has resumed production of Organic Bio Wholemilk Natural Yogurt and Glenisk Organic Greek Style Natural Yogurt, with more products to follow in the coming weeks.

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The yoghurts are made in a newly assembled facility adjacent to the wrecked factory.

A new manufacturing plant on the scale of the original factory is not expected to be operational until 2023.

Glenisk operating company Cordagrove Ltd booked an operating profit of €1.9m in 2020, up 45% on the previous year, according to filed accounts.

Gross margin on yoghurts sold into the retail trade was 26%, up one point on 2019.

Net worth in December 2020 was €11.3m, including €5.6m in cash.

The accounts disclose that 75 staff were paid an average of €42,700 p.a., and Glenisk said recently that all employees have been kept on the payroll since the fire.

Four members the Cleary family shared c.€1.6m in directors’ pay and pension remuneration in 2020.

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