Breathnach, Proinnsias (2000) The evolution of the spatial structure of the Irish dairy processing industry. Irish Geography, 22 (2). pp. 166-184. ISSN 0075-0778

Download (303kB)

Abstract

The Irish dairy processing industry has undergone a profound process of spatial reorganisation since the original introduction of the creamery system in the late nineteenth century. This process is described in the form of six distinct but interwoven episodes: the elimination of the privately-owned creameries, the amalgamation of dairy co-operatives into larger units, internal rationalisation of processing within these units (including the closure of branch creameries), concentration of on-farm milk production and, most recently, internationalisation accompanied by the movement towards privatisation of the largest dairy processing co-operatives. Among the outcomes of these combined processes have been the widespread elimination of dairy farmers from the industry and the reduction of those remaining to the essential status of contract suppliers to large agribusiness enterprises whose primary orientation is now increasingly focused on private shareholders and overseas operations.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is an electronic version of an article published in Irish Geography 33:2(2000) Proinnsias Breathnach, The evolution of the spatial structure of the Irish dairy processing industry, 166-184. Irish Geography is available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00750770009478589
Keywords:	creameries, co-operatives, amalgamation, rationalisation, internationalisation, privatisation.
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Geography
Item ID:	3102
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1080/00750770009478589
Depositing User:	Proinnsias Breathnach
Date Deposited:	22 Feb 2012 15:33
Journal or Publication Title:	Irish Geography
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://www.tandfonline.com/
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

Repository Staff Only(login required)

Item control page

Downloads

Origin of downloads