Glanbia Co-Operative Society 2020 Annual Report
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Glanbia Co-operative Society Annual Review 2020 Staying Safe, Staying Strong. Contents This Year’s Highlights 3 Chairman’s Statement 4 Keeping the Show on the Road 8 Group Managing Director Statement 10 Glanbia Ireland 12 Glanbia Ireland Schemes and Initiatives for 2020 17 Glanbia plc 18 Joint Venture Expansion 20 Glanbia Co-operative Society 22 Board Members 22 Council Members 24 Regional Committee Members 26 Summary Profit and Loss Account 28 Summary Balance Sheet 28 Summary Cashflow 29 Consolidated Group Income Statement 30 Consolidated Group Balance Sheet 31 Change in Basis of Accounting for Investees 32 2 Glanbia Co-operative Society Limited Annual Review – 2020 This Year’s Highlights 4,500 3 billion Members participated in litres 2020 Trading Bonus Scheme Gl milk intake in 2020 €41.9 million Total payments to Co-op Members in 2020 350 €1.44 New Members in Total share interest/dividend past 5 years per share in past five years €43.7 million Dividend income received by Glanbia Co-op in 2020 3 Chairman’s Statement Dear Member 2020 was a uniquely challenging year for us all. Glanbia Co-op (“the Co-op”) faced this global crisis in the same way we have met challenges throughout our 100-year history. We responded with dedication and agility and kept our products and services moving nationally and internationally without skipping a beat. While our response to the Covid-19 pandemic is explored throughout this report, I want to note from the outset that I have never been more proud of our Co-op Members, suppliers, contractors and employees for the commitment they have shown over the past 12 months. Their willingness to embrace new ways of working that prioritised the health and wellbeing of our customers, employees and suppliers is commendable. I would like to extend my personal thanks to them all. Member Supports During 2020, the Co-op once again provided appropriate supports to our milk suppliers and grain growers in coping with market challenges. The total value of supports paid to Members during 2020 in respect of milk and grain supply, as well as feed purchases, was €32.2 million. These were paid from the support funds approved by Members at our Special General Meetings (SGM) in 2018 and 2019. Share Interest/Dividends The Co-op continued to pursue a progressive dividend policy during 2020. In May 2020 Share Interest (“Special Dividend”) of 13.5 cent per share was paid to all Members on the Share Register at 29 May 2019, the date of the SGM of Glanbia Co-op at which this payment was approved. At the AGM held on 6 October 2020, Members approved a further payment of Share Interest (“Dividend”) of 15 cent per share which was paid to all Members on the Share Register at that date. The total value of all Share Interest payments during 2020 was 28.5 cent per share (€9.7 million). The Co-op Board is always mindful of its obligations to all shareholders, paying total share interest of €1.44 per share in the five year period up to and including 2020. At the forthcoming AGM of the Society which will take place on 2 June 2021, the Board is proposing that Members approve a Share Interest payment of 16.5 cent per share, (totalling €6.2 million) payable to Members on the Share Register at that date. This is an increase of 10% on the previous year’s payment. Utilisation of Glanbia Ireland Dividend in 2020 Glanbia Co-op owns 60% of Glanbia Ireland (GI) and receives a dividend each year which equates to 30% of the milk processor’s annual Profit After Tax (PAT). This dividend paid by GI to the Co- op was returned to Members through Trading Bonus Schemes in 2018 and 2019 which were paid based on the level of trade for 4 Glanbia Co-operative Society Limited Annual Review – 2020 SUSTAINABLE FARMING Shane Fitzgerald, Co. Waterford. We are committed to farming in a way that helps the environment and makes a positive contribution towards a more sustainable future. “We milk 200 cows on a 90-hectare dairy farm in Co. Waterford. Our stocking rate now is just 2.4. It is a very safe and efficient We place a huge emphasis on sustainable farming, not just from number because we’re matching our grass growth to the cows that a biodiversity perspective but also in relation to maximising we’re carrying and matching our fertiliser as well. The heifers are efficiencies on the farm. contract-reared so that takes the pressure off the system. We don’t have to buy too much feed and we don’t have to spread as much For me, biodiversity is all about having a variety of species, both fertiliser. flora and fauna, that live in harmony with one another. This includes different types of animals, plants and pollinators. In We also invested in solar panels under the Glanbia FarmGen maintaining the natural flora and fauna, it helps our production programme. They are on the roof of our calving shed so they are system through maximising efficiencies in growing grass and hopefully going to cover up to 30% of our energy requirements. getting the most from our herd. In the winter our farm turns into something of a nature reserve. Measures included in the revised Nitrates Action Programme don’t Whooper swans arrive here every winter from Iceland. They take dramatically impact on the farm as we have been implementing up about maybe 20 acres of the fields, it is great to see them. proper fencing and water trough placement for years. Where We just leave them graze away, we don’t go near them really. It’s possible, we keep our fences out one and a half meters from something nice to have on the farm and something different. We the ditches to create a buffer zone or wildlife corridor. It also see more and more coming every year. means that bees have a little bit of space for pollination. Again that’s something that doesn’t take away from the production on We are committed to farming in a way that helps the environment the farm, it’s only a small bit of ground, but it does make a big too and makes a positive contribution towards a more sustainable difference when you add it all together for creating biodiversity. future.” milk and grain suppliers. In addition, beef, sheep and pig farmer decision. This is very disappointing. Additional investment in customers that are Glanbia Co-op Members qualified for a Feed our existing facilities and cooperation with other processors can Bonus on tonnes purchased. facilitate some milk volume growth at peak, but not at the level that matches our farmers’ production plans for the coming years. I know In 2020 the Board approved a new distribution model for the that this is a cause of significant disappointment for many of our dividend received from GI. Commencing in January of 2020, milk milk suppliers. supplier Members of Glanbia Co-op received a 0.4 cent per litre (cpl) payment each month on all milk supplied as their “Share of GI Following the announcement on 15 March 2021, of the Peak Profit”. This payment to Members was adjusted to reflect the actual Supply Management Policy, Jim Bergin and his senior GI constituents of the milk delivered and enabled Members to benefit management colleagues engaged with our regional committee from the GI dividend on a more immediate basis. structure, hearing their concerns and constructive suggestions. Over the course of 2020, a total of €12.9 million was paid to Having carefully considered this feedback on 30 March, GI milk supplier Members as their Share of GI Profit. The Board has announced a number of amendments to the policy. Among the decided to maintain this distribution for 2021. new measures announced was a €6.7 million Voluntary Peak Reduction Scheme that will be funded by Glanbia Co-operative The Board believes that the combination of the monthly Share of Society. The Co-op Board has decided to fund the Voluntary Peak GI Profit payment on milk and the 2021 Trading Bonus Scheme is Reduction Scheme as it will free up milk processing capacity during an equitable and transparent means of returning the Co-op’s share peak which can be allocated via a “Reserve Pool”. The Reserve Pool of GI profit to our active farmer Members. will allocate additional peak volumes to ‘exceptional cases’ where, Members were also provided with the opportunity to take part in for example, there has been a notifiable herd disease outbreak in the 2020 Trading Bonus Scheme which rewarded Members on the base period. their trading levels on a similar basis to the 2018 and 2019 Trading This Reserve Pool will also be open to applications from expanding Bonus Schemes. The Trading Bonus Scheme rewards our Members suppliers that meet a defined set of criteria. The Co-op Board for trading with the business that they majority own, GI. is acutely aware that many milk suppliers have made significant €6.5 million was paid to Members in February 2021 as part of on-farm investments in recent years and the Reserve Pool aims the 2020 Trading Bonus Scheme, comprising €4.7 million to milk to alleviate where possible the challenge of restrictions on peak suppliers, €1.4 million to grain growers and €0.4 million feed supply for as many suppliers as possible. bonuses. A further €0.8 million will be paid to grain growers during It is also important to state that there are defined criteria and the summer on completion of the 2020 dried grain harvest.