Dairy products and alternatives in 2025: The big picture
Retail value sales of dairy products and alternatives are expected to rise in current terms in Ireland in 2025. Growth in 2024 and 2025 has been slower than in previous years, due in part to rising prices and falling milk collections, which have exerted a downward pressure on volumes across the various dairy sectors. The main reasons for the decline in milk supply were animal disease outbreaks and poor weather conditions, which had a significant impact on milk collections in 2024. Although the situation improved in the second half of the year, it failed to reach the previous year's figures. As a result, prices increased moderately, supporting retail value growth despite lower volumes. However, compared to 2024, a modest but significant recovery is forecast for milk production in 2025, which is expected to support stronger growth in retail value.
Key trends in 2025
Continued demand for dairy products in Ireland is supported by the generally positive attitude of local consumers towards such products. However, but due to continued price rises, consumers are increasingly choosing to use private label products as a cheaper alternative. Ireland is a strong player in the dairy market, with strong local companies successfully expanding into overseas markets, and local residents trusting and supporting local businesses According to the National Dairy Council (NDC) in 2024, Irish consumers value locally sourced food, and 81% agree that Irish dairy products are superior because they are locally produced. Recent findings suggest that access to locally sourced and produced food holds significant importance for nearly three-quarters of Irish people.
Competitive Landscape
Glanbia Plc is set to remain the leading company within dairy products and alternatives overall in 2025. The company produces the Avonmore and Premier brands, which both feature amongst the top 10 largest brands in the Irish dairy products and alternatives market. Glanbia has established a diversified offer across different categories, but its most prominent brand line is Avonmore. Its overall strength in dairy products and alternatives is founded on its clear lead in drinking milk products. The company, which is Ireland’s leading farmer-owned dairy and grain co-operative, is capable of developing new products that are adapted to the evolving needs of local consumers and has established a trusted reputation as a local company.
Channel developments
Supermarkets dominates the distribution of dairy products and alternatives in Ireland. The channel plays a central role in the grocery shopping behaviours of Irish consumers and, with most dairy products and alternatives products appearing on the regular shopping lists of households in the country, it holds a dominant position in most categories. As well as the convenience of one-stop shopping provided by supermarkets, consumers appreciate its broad product offer and competitive pricing, including strong and expanding private label ranges. The channel also has an extensive, nationwide store network, making it accessible to consumers across the country. Furthermore, supermarkets’ strong refrigerated transportation, storage and display capabilities mean that the channel is particularly well placed in the distribution of the many perishable dairy products and alternatives products.
What next for dairy products and alternatives?
Retal value sales of dairy products and alternatives are set to rise over the forecast period. This growth is expected to be supported by a modest recovery in milk production. Irish consumers maintain a positive attitude towards dairy, and demand is expected to remain high, especially for locally sourced and private-label products, which offer better value amid ongoing price sensitivity. However, growth is expected to be slower than in previous years due to stabilising prices, lower birth rates, and unpredictable weather, which continues to limit milk supply in Ireland at times. High production costs and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty are also putting upward pressure on prices, which affect consumer purchasing behaviour, particularly amongst price-sensitive groups who respond by reducing consumption, switching to lower-cost or private-label alternatives, or delaying non-essential dairy purchases. While Ireland itself has not been directly affected by recent animal disease outbreaks, these issues have disrupted milk production and consumption in other Western European countries. As a result, Ireland may face indirect challenges, particularly in export markets and in maintaining stable demand across the region.
Delivery:
Files are delivered directly into your account soon after payment is received and any tax certification is verified (where applicable).
This report comes in PDF with additional info in Excel included.
Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Dairy Products and Alternatives industry in Ireland with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to a comprehensive range of core packaged food categories.
If you're in the Dairy Products and Alternatives industry in Ireland, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Dairy Products and Alternatives in Ireland report includes:
- Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
- Detailed segmentation of international and local products
- Historic volume and value sizes, company and brand market shares
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Dairy Products and Alternatives in Ireland?
- Which are the leading brands in Dairy Products and Alternatives in Ireland?
- How are products distributed in Dairy Products and Alternatives in Ireland?
- How is the rise of e-commerce and/or the expansion of modern grocery retail impacting traditional retail?
- What are the key health and wellness concerns driving, or challenging, sales in Dairy Products and Alternatives?
- How significant are vegan and vegetarian dietary requirements in determining sales growth in Ireland?
- How has COVID-19 impacted consumer demand? To what extent have lockdown, home seclusion and stockpiling boosted sales? Will the longer term economic repercussions of the pandemic stimulate or suppress future growth?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
- How significant will values-based claims, such as sustainability and ethical labelling, be in supporting future growth and brand equity?
Dairy Products and Alternatives in Ireland
Dairy products and alternatives in 2025: The big picture
Key trends in 2025
Competitive Landscape
Channel developments
What next for dairy products and alternatives?
DISCLAIMER
Baby Food in Ireland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Prices fall at last
Nutricia Ireland dominates baby food
Affordability is key
Growth faces constraints
Focus on health and nutrition
Emphasis on sustainability
Butter and Spreads in Ireland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Strong local demand for butter
Kerry Foods benefits from differentiated product offer
Supermarkets dominant, while forecourt retailers grows strongly from low base
Impediments to growth
Expanding range of healthier variants
Players focusing on sustainability
Cheese in Ireland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Soft cheese benefits from versatility and innovation
Kerry Foods benefits from long-standing presence
Supermarkets retains lead, but discounters continues to gain share
Consumers open to trying new cheeses
Focus on high-protein, low-fat products
Players work to reduce environmental impact
Drinking Milk Products in Ireland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Significant price rises
Glanbia leads sales of drinking milk products
Supermarkets still dominant, but e-commerce grows
Continued growth, with an expanding range of options
Health and wellness to exert growing influence
Shift to more environmentally responsible dairy production
Yoghurt and Sour Milk Products in Ireland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Yoghurt benefits from healthy image
Yoplait leads competitive category
Supermarkets still dominant despite share fall
Steady growth ahead
Health trends shaping category development
Tighter regulations
Other Dairy in Ireland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Healthy image supports growth of fromage frais and quark
Yoplait stands clear of rivals in competitive category
Convenience drives growth in most dynamic channels
Fromage frais and quark to drive growth
Health and wellness to exert influence across other dairy
Stronger emphasis on sustainability
Plant-Based Dairy in Ireland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Strong rise in volumes
Alpro continues to dominate despite losing share
Supermarket players invest in expansion of the plant-based dairy range
Favourable conditions for further growth
Health, the environment and animal welfare continue to influence demand
Environmental moves particularly important in plant-based dairy
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Dairy Products and Alternatives
-
- Dried Baby Food
- Prepared Baby Food
- Other Baby Food
-
-
- Liquid Standard Milk Formula
- Powder Standard Milk Formula
-
- Liquid Follow-on Milk Formula
- Powder Follow-on Milk Formula
-
- Liquid Growing-Up Milk Formula
- Powder Growing-Up Milk Formula
-
- Liquid Special Baby Milk Formula
- Powder Special Baby Milk Formula
-
-
-
- Butter
- Cooking Fats
- Margarine and Spreads
-
- Spreadable Cheese
- Processed Cheese excl Spreadable
-
- Packaged Hard Cheese
- Unpackaged Hard Cheese
- Soft Cheese
-
-
- Dairy Only Flavoured Milk Drinks
- Flavoured Milk Drinks with Fruit Juice
-
-
-
- Fat-free Fresh Milk
- Semi Skimmed Fresh Milk
- Full Fat Fresh Milk
-
- Fat-free Shelf Stable Milk
- Semi Skimmed Shelf Stable Milk
- Full Fat Shelf Stable Milk
-
- Goat Milk
-
- Powder Milk
-
-
- Sour Milk Products
-
- Drinking Yoghurt
- Flavoured Yoghurt
- Plain Yoghurt
-
-
- Chilled Dairy Desserts
- Shelf Stable Dairy Desserts
- Chilled Snacks
- Coffee Whiteners
-
-
- Flavoured Condensed Milk
- Plain Condensed Milk
- Evaporated Milk
-
- Cream
-
- Flavoured Fromage Frais and Quark
- Plain Fromage Frais and Quark
- Savoury Fromage Frais and Quark
-
-
-
-
- Soy Drinks
- Other Plant-based Milk
- Plant-based Yoghurt
- Plant-based Cheese
-
Why buy this report?
- Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders
- Track key industry trends, opportunities and threats
- Inform your marketing, brand, strategy and market development, sales and supply functions
This report originates from Passport, our Dairy Products and Alternatives research and analysis database.
NEW REPORT GUARANTEE
If you purchase a report that is updated in the next 60 days, we will send you the new edition and data extraction Free!