Kerrygold Vs. Any other brand butter

OU812 · 08-01-2016 11:45pm #1

Just wondering what it is about kerrygold that command such a premium in price?

Compared to Dunnes own brand there's nearly €1 in the price difference for cream & salt.

odyssey06 · 09-01-2016 5:10pm

I find it easier to spread than own brand butters... or sometimes I just buy own brand butter and keep part portion out of fridge all the time in butter tray.

njs030 · 09-01-2016 5:22pm

As far as I know the price is because Kerrygold is from grass fed cows whereas other butter is made from cows milk who are eating grain etc. It's completely natural with nothing added (apart from salt in the salted version). It's more expensive to produce but a tastier product.

duploelabs · 09-01-2016 6:28pm

You're also paying for the brand

rubadub · 09-01-2016 7:00pm

notjustsweet wrote: »

As far as I know the price is because Kerrygold is from grass fed cows whereas other butter is made from cows milk who are eating grain etc.

I thought the vast majority of cows are grass fed in Ireland.

OU812 wrote: »

Compared to Dunnes own brand there's nearly €1 in the price difference for cream & salt.

Advertising costs a huge amount. I have heard the advertising cost for many branded beers per pint is a lot more than the ingredients. I would love to see the breakdown in what you are paying for, I expect it would put many people off buying some products, and not frown upon some for being "cheap" when in fact the production costs could be a lot higher.

njs030 · 09-01-2016 7:08pm

rubadub wrote: »

I thought the vast majority of cows are grass fed in Ireland.

Advertising costs a huge amount. I have heard the advertising cost for many branded beers per pint is a lot more than the ingredients. I would love to see the breakdown in what you are paying for, I expect it would put many people off buying some products, and not frown upon some for being "cheap" when in fact the production costs could be a lot higher.

I think the kerrygold cows are exclusively fed on grass whereas most other herds are supplemented with grain. It's cheaper to feed them grain as well as grass, because to exclusively grass feed means needing lots of space to allow the grass time to recover. I'll try to get some information on it and put in a link.

Edited to say after some research they are grass fed for 10 months. During 2 months of winter they are brought inside and eat grain.

Though they are also humanely raised and treated very well I'm not sure how that would account for a higher price!

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will explain better than my attempt!

Graces7 · 10-01-2016 3:10pm

Paying for the brand name. I have an Irish fanatic friend in the US who got very excited when she found Kerrygold butter for sale there. I use the own brand.

Graces7 · 10-01-2016 3:12pm

notjustsweet wrote: »

I think the kerrygold cows are exclusively fed on grass whereas most other herds are supplemented with grain. It's cheaper to feed them grain as well as grass, because to exclusively grass feed means needing lots of space to allow the grass time to recover. I'll try to get some information on it and put in a link.

Edited to say after some research they are grass fed for 10 months. During 2 months of winter they are brought inside and eat grain.

Though they are also humanely raised and treated very well I'm not sure how that would account for a higher price!

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will explain better than my attempt!

I live among cattle and they are fed sileage in winter ie grass..and cattle nuts which is what maybe this is about. ie concentrates.

fepper · 10-01-2016 3:21pm

Its the very same as supermarket butter only its a brand name for our butter sold to international markets and it works wonderfully 😁

Dial Hard · 10-01-2016 3:34pm

notjustsweet wrote:

I think the kerrygold cows are exclusively fed on grass whereas most other herds are supplemented with grain. It's cheaper to feed them grain as well as grass, because to exclusively grass feed means needing lots of space to allow the grass time to recover. I'll try to get some information on it and put in a link.

Paying for the brand.

Kerrygold don't have their own herd and virtually all cattle in Ireland is grass-fed with supplementary feed in winter.

cala · 10-01-2016 3:34pm

Kerrygold butter was made in every creamery in Ireland that produced butter, alongside the creamery's own brand and whatever supermarket brands that that creamery produced. The name began as a marketing concept, to sell all Irish butter abroad under one name. there is an EU oval stamp on all dairy products wrappers with the number of the specific creamery that produced the product stamped inside it, the number on Kerrygold can also be the same no on other branded and own brand butters which were made in the same creamery.

njs030 · 10-01-2016 4:31pm

Dial Hard wrote: »

Paying for the brand.

Kerrygold don't have their own herd and virtually all cattle in Ireland is grass-fed with supplementary feed in winter.

I already edited my post to include this. Why quote my post but cut out the bit that you're basically repeating?!

fepper · 10-01-2016 4:42pm

I think he was just buttering you up there!!

rubadub · 10-01-2016 6:37pm

You can compare products nutritional info to rule out if its the exact same as another brand. Note I am not saying if they match that they are identical, just rules it out. It could be the exact same and from the same factory but still a different grade, or cooked faster/differently.

This list is from 2011.

MrsD007 wrote: »

More and more people are turning to own brands at the moment, here is a list of the companies who make supermarket own brand products.

Tesco Own brands

They say that 100 Irish companies produce some 2,000 own brand Tesco products. 98% of their customers purchase at least one own brand as part of weekly shop. Own brand household cleaning account for 63% of sales in that category.

Who makes Tesco own brand?

Glanbia – Tesco milk; Tesco butter; Tesco fromage frais
Mannings bakery (Dublin) – Tesco apple tarts, crumble, bakewell tart and other cakes
Hilton Foods (Drogheda) – Tesco Finest sausages, chorizo sausages, Tesco Finest Pork and Lamb products.
Brogan’s Bakery (Galway) – Tesco muffins
Country Crest (Lucan); Tesco roosters, kerrs pink, baby potatoes, onions, shallots and more veg.
Gem Pack Foods Ltd – Tesco rice, sugar, currants, sultanas, raisins, almonds, hazelnuts, walnut pieces, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds etc,
Catron Bros (Cavan / Dublin) – Tesco chicken ranges
P Mulrine & sons (Donegal) – Tesco juices (ambient and chilled).
Both Irish Pride and Bachelors also make some Tesco label products.

Superquinn

Over 2,000 own brand products are available; 95% of the fresh own label products are Irish, while over 75% of grocery own label products are sourced from Irish suppliers/producers, 100% Irish chicken only used in their ready meals. They say they have seen a 20% increase in sales on own label products in 2010 compared to 2009.

Who makes Superquinn own brand?

Johnston Mooney & O’Brien - Essentials bread
Pat the Baker - Superquinn core bread
Connacht Gold - butter and cream
Bewley’s - own label core tea
Seery’s, Scott’s, Sam’s Cookies, and Fusco’s - all supply cakes for Superquinn Essentials range
Irish Yogurts (Clonakilty, Co Cork)- produce Essentials yogurts
Dublin based Donnellys - supply all fruit and vegetables
Wonderfoods (Dublin) - supply pre-pack salads and prepared vegetables
Country Crest based in Lusk - produce Superquinn own label ready meals using locally grown ingredients
Bombay Pantry based in Dublin - produce ethnic convenience meals under Superquinn own label

Aldi

Over 45% of all grocery sales at Aldi are generated on products bought from Irish suppliers, producers and manufacturers.
Who makes Aldi products?
Bewleys / Robert Roberts – all coffees and teas
Natures Isle – fresh poultry, Irish Angus beef, pork, lamb, all sourced from RoI farms and Bord Bia certified.
Irish Yogurts / Town of Monaghan Co-op / the Different Dairy Company – yogurts
Odlums – flour

Lidl

Lidl say they are “committed to using as many indigenous suppliers as possible in the production of its own brand products.”
Pat the Baker - granary bread and scones
Johnston Mooney & O Brien - hot dog rolls and burger buns
Olhausen – Premium pork sausages
Irish Yogurts (Clonakilty) – Premium yogurts
Town of Monaghan – Irish creamery butter
Liffey Meats (Cavan) – fresh beef
Cooley Distillery – whiskey
Oakpark Foods (Tipperary) – Glensallagh streaky bacon
Donegal Creameries – 1 litre milk carton
Seerys (Carlow)– triple chocolate cake and luxury lemon cake
Glenpatrick – Flavoured water
Begleys (Dublin) – fresh fruit and veg
The Scullery – relish (small supplier, relishes developed with Lidl)

SuperValu

SuperValu have 1,700 own brand products, over 30% of these are Irish.
Who makes SuperValu own brand?
Glenisk – organic yogurts
Follain (Co Cork) – SV Supreme jam, cranberry sauce, apple chutney, wholegrain mustard, relishes.
Kelkin – SV Muesli
Bandon Vale – cheese blocks
Mulrines – SV ketchup
Seerys (Carlow)– tea brack and brownie slices
Silver Pail (Fermoy, Co Cork)– Supreme ice creams
Lakeland Dairies (Cavan) – SuperValu Ice cream 1lt tubs
Riverview Eggs, Cork, Valley View Eggs, Bandon, Co. Cork, Clonarn Clover, Co. Meath and Nest Box Egg Co, Monaghan – SV eggs
Carty meats (Athlone)– SV rasher range
Mallons (Monaghan)– SV sausages
Countrystyle (Co Kilkenny) – SV puddings
Kepak – frozen burgers
Prestige Foods (Kerry) – trifle range
Taravale (Naas)– Salads such as coleslaw etc
Sunshine juice (Carlow)– Supreme freshly squeezed juice
JDS Foods (Cork) – SV spreads / margarine
Cashel – SV speciality cheeses

Centra

Centra have 700 own brand products available and 35% of their own brand products are Irish made. They say they use Irish suppliers for their fresh produce; all meat is 100% Irish; 67% of fruit and veg and 75% of dairy.

Who makes Centra products?
Irish Yogurts (Clonakilty)– Centra luxury yoghurts
McEvoy Family Foods (Co Tipperary) - Chilled Soup Range
Brady Family (Co Kildare) – deli style meats
Dunhill Cuisine (Waterford)– ready made meals i.e. cottage pie / lasagne
Mulrines (Donegal)– Centra juice range
Kerry Freshways – pre-packed sandwiches
North Cork co-op – Centra butter
Blenders (Dublin)- Mayonnaise

Dunnes

Overall over 75% of Dunnes fresh own label is sourced in Ireland; 100% fresh beef, chicken , lamb, pork is Irish; 97% of our bakery lines are Irish made ; 91% of all potatoes are Irish and 100% fresh fish from Irish suppliers / waters.
Olhausen - Dunnes Sausages
Batchelors - baked beans and peas
Mulrines - juice
Blenders - pasta sauces
Tendermeats (dedicated meat plant) - All Dunnes meat is controlled from farm to shelf via this plant
Some of Dunnes fresh own label suppliers
Natural Dairies Ltd.
Riverview Eggs Ltd.
The Nest Box Egg Co.
Annalitten Farm Foods Ltd.
Nevilles Bakery Dublin Ltd.
Johnson Mooney & O'Brien
Pat the Baker
Matt Reilly Cakes Ltd.
Staffords Bakery Ltd.
Brogans Bakery
P McCloskey & Sons Ltd.
Scotts Bakery Ltd.
William Carr & Sons Ltd.
H.J. Nolan (Dublin) Ltd.
Wrights of Howth
Dunns Seafare Ltd.
Oceanpath
Galway Bay Seafoods Ltd.

Another way of checking (for the super-sleuths!)
This only applies to meat and diary products: Irrespective of the brand, the label will have an EU approval number identifying the final processing plant. The Department of Agriculture publishes a list of approved plants for Ireland on its website.
This label identifies only the final stage of processing not the actual origin of the meat or dairy product.
For example, if you’re looking at two cartons of milk or a packet of rashers, one branded, one own brand, look at the origin code on the label (an oval with IE, a number and EC) or on the cap you may find, for instance, the number 1405 on both products. This identifies the production plant as being the same.

List compiled by Tina Leonard of the Pat Kenny Radio Show

Never knew there was a kerrygold version of baileys

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerrygold_Irish_Cream_Liqueur

dudara · 10-01-2016 6:39pm

Generally, all Irish creamery butters are the same, branded or store brand. Kerrygold is a great example of a premium brand and a marketing success.

Can't beat Irish butter. There is simply nothing better out there.

dw2016 · 10-01-2016 6:54pm

OU812 wrote: »

Just wondering what it is about kerrygold that command such a premium in price?

Compared to Dunnes own brand there's nearly €1 in the price difference for cream & salt.

a lot of the supermarkets sell their own brand essential foodstuffs such as milk butter veg etc at below cost of production to entice the shopper in the door! The likes of kerry Avonmore can't do that or they wouldn't be long going broke

cala · 10-01-2016 8:28pm

Check the oval code no in Tesco for their milk and butter and the oval code no in Tesco for Avonmore milk and butter, they're the same

Graces7 · 11-01-2016 3:12pm

rubadub wrote: »

You can compare products nutritional info to rule out if its the exact same as another brand. Note I am not saying if they match that they are identical, just rules it out. It could be the exact same and from the same factory but still a different grade, or cooked faster/differently.

This list is from 2011.

Never knew there was a kerrygold version of baileys

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerrygold_Irish_Cream_Liqueur

I make my own Irish Cream Liqueur.. On my pension the original costs too much and i have whiskey in the house for the marmalade I sell.. I am not a drinker but just fancied Irish Cream at Christmas. google gave me the gist, then I chatted with a hotel employee at a Christmas Craft Fair whose hobby is making liqueurs. It is so easy and I love it! Added my own touches and in this weather it makes a grand nightcap....

shrapnel222 · 11-01-2016 3:29pm

dudara wrote: »

Generally, all Irish creamery butters are the same, branded or store brand. Kerrygold is a great example of a premium brand and a marketing success.

Can't beat Irish butter. There is simply nothing better out there.

wow, was just thinking the complete opposite. I find Irish butter absolutely terrible and tasteless compared to say French butter

The Real B-man · 11-01-2016 4:36pm

shrapnel222 wrote: »

wow, was just thinking the complete opposite. I find Irish butter absolutely terrible and tasteless compared to say French butter

French stuff is awful it almost white and has no flavour IMO, as irish butter is generally salted nothing else compares.

shrapnel222 · 11-01-2016 4:46pm

The Real B-man wrote: »

French stuff is awful it almost white and has no flavour IMO, as irish butter is generally salted nothing else compares.

lol, i think we'll have to agree to disagree.

French butter is yellow for a start, and comes in unsalted, lightly salted and salted varieties. Only French butter they sell in Ireland is president, which is a decent start (although long way to go yet). put a bit of that on bread and compare it to Kerrygold. one has oodles of flavor and tastes delicious, the other is Kerrygold :pac:

listermint · 11-01-2016 4:50pm

shrapnel222 wrote: »

lol, i think we'll have to agree to disagree.

French butter is yellow for a start, and comes in unsalted, lightly salted and salted varieties. Only French butter they sell in Ireland is president, which is a decent start (although long way to go yet). put a bit of that on bread and compare it to Kerrygold. one has oodles of flavor and tastes delicious, the other is Kerrygold :pac:

Nah, you are just seven shades of wrong here.

seven shades

Faith · 11-01-2016 6:22pm

I find other butters melt more at room temperature than Kerrygold does, which leads me to think that they have more oil added. Kerrygold stays rock solid without serious coaxing.

That's just my experience though, and could be totally baseless. I've been out of Ireland for a while so that could have changed too.

huskerdu · 11-01-2016 9:57pm

Faith wrote: »

I find other butters melt more at room temperature than Kerrygold does, which leads me to think that they have more oil added. Kerrygold stays rock solid without serious coaxing.

That's just my experience though, and could be totally baseless. I've been out of Ireland for a while so that could have changed too.

The ingredients of own brand butter are Milk and salt, exactly the same as Kerrygold. Also, I cant believe that you could add oil to butter and not change the taste and texture of butter and how it separates when melted.

I agree that some own brand butters are softer at warm room temperatures. I know nothing about the process of making butter and how this affects the butter.

Faith · 11-01-2016 11:44pm

huskerdu wrote: »

The ingredients of own brand butter are Milk and salt, exactly the same as Kerrygold. Also, I cant believe that you could add oil to butter and not change the taste and texture of butter and how it separates when melted.

Spreadable butters, like Dairygold, have oils added to them to make them spreadable. But looking at the ingredients, I only see milk and salt for the blocks of butter that I can find online, so I'm probably imagining things

odyssey06 · 12-01-2016 9:11am

For me (as noted by Faith and Huskerdu) it's the consistency of Kerrygold that I notice as differentiating it from other Irish butters.

Shenshen · 12-01-2016 10:13am

I've tasted my way through a lot of Irish butters (butters, mind, not those abominable spreads! How do they get away with even calling those "butter"???), and my favourite for taste and texture is Aldi's own brand.

Though I have to say Irish butter did take a bit of getting used to when I first came over here. At first, it all tasted a bit rancid to me, but I quite enjoy it now.

rubadub · 12-01-2016 6:33pm

odyssey06 wrote: »

For me (as noted by Faith and Huskerdu) it's the consistency of Kerrygold that I notice as differentiating it from other Irish butters.

You could compare the size of the 1lb blocks. If one is smaller in size the other is probably sligthly whipped and more airy.

I have softer kerrygold, not crap with oil added, I think it is just more airy so its easy to scrape up some and easy to spread. Sort of like a wispa bar is airy but the spreadable kerrygold does not have visible bubbles.

KERRYGOLD PURE IRISH BUTTER SOFTER TUB

Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter softer tub
Is pure Irish butter made from only the finest quality Summer milk, and contains no added vegetable oil. The unique way in which Kerrygold softer butter is churned makes it softer and easier to spread.
Uses: Spread straight from the fridge onto fresh bread or scones, instant satisfaction!

they do another with added oil

KERRYGOLD SPREADABLE WITH IRISH BUTTER AND OLIVE OIL

Kerrygold Spreadable with Irish Butter and olive oil
New Kerrygold Spreadable combines delicious Irish butter with olive oil to make it spreadable from the fridge.
Uses: Excellent when melted on a jacket potato, spread on toast and sandwiches or used in cooking and baking.

I think in another thread someone said lidl stays rock hard. If its a little bit airy I imagine it may seem more melted at room temp.

Dizzyblonde · 12-01-2016 6:53pm

Maybe I'm imagining it, but I don't think the flavour and texture of any other butter is as nice as Kerrygold

huskerdu · 12-01-2016 9:10pm

Faith wrote: »

Spreadable butters, like Dairygold, have oils added to them to make them spreadable. But looking at the ingredients, I only see milk and salt for the blocks of butter that I can find online, so I'm probably imagining things

I was only comparing real butters. The spreadable ones are very different.

Dial Hard · 13-01-2016 12:00am

huskerdu wrote:

I was only comparing real butters. The spreadable ones are very different.

I think people are conflating the "easier spread" versions of real butter with dairy spreads. Two very different things, neither of which are real butter. But the former is much closer than the latter.

Personally, I just keep half my butter in a dish in the cupboard and half in the fridge. Covers pretty much all contingencies.

Kerrygold Vs. Any other brand butter

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