Proud dairy tradition dating back to 1922

 

Ornua Foods can trace its roots back to 1922. Since then Adams Foods Ltd as it is today has grown from a small family dairy to one of the largest cheese and butter company in the UK.

 

1922

Frederick Adams established a small business selling milk direct from the dairy and packing butter under the Adams brand which helped them grow rapidly

 

1960s

Adams became UK distributor for the Irish Dairy Board’s products including the newly launched Kerrygold butter

 

1970s

Adams became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Irish Dairy Board and Adams Butter became Adams Foods Limited;

 

1980s

The group reverted to its core business and The Kerrygold Company and Adams Food Ingredients were created;

 

1985

North Downs Dairy established and the Pilgrims Choice brand was launched;

 

1989

Due to expansion of North Downs Dairy’s business, a purpose built packing facility was built in Wincanton, Somerset;

 

1990

The Kerrygold Company moved from their old site within Leek to a purpose built site at Sunnyhills Road. This saw the Kerrygold Company soon establish itself as the largest packer of cheese in the UK and Ireland. Customers now included major retailers, food service businesses, contract packing customers and independent cheese producers seeking a route to market;

 

1997

North Downs Dairy acquired by the Irish Dairy Board;

 

2007

Horlicks Farms acquired by the Irish Dairy Board;

 

2008

The Kerrygold Company invested £30m in state-of-the-art facility at the existing Sunnyhills site, increasing production capacity and efficiency and incorporating the very latest green technologies;

 

2010

The Kerrygold Company and North Downs Dairy merged to form Adams Foods with an annual turnover of over £300m.

 

2016 

Changed our name to Ornua Foods