18 August, 2025. Kepak showcased the strides the food company and its suppliers are making on sustainability and the positive economic impact of Kepak Cork at a farm walk hosted on Brian and Noelle O’Keeffe’s farm in Glanworth, Fermoy, Co. Cork. The event marked the formal launch of Kepak’s Forward Together With Every Step platform in Ireland. Forward Together With Every Step was set up to help drive sustainable impacts across operations, farming and communities, which is being led out by Kepak.
In recent years, Kepak has invested €18m into its Cork site, with 450 staff employed at Kepak Watergrasshill, many of whom live locally to the site. Kepak Watergrasshill contributes approximately €22 million a year to the local economy.
Key Highlights of the Kepak farm walk included:
✅Genetics & Cattle Selection: Chris Daly (ICBF) and Edward Quinn (Kepak Livestock Procurement Manager) discussed the importance of genetics in cattle selection. Edward demonstrated how weight distribution affects carcass value, noting that while the loin comprises just 13% of an animal’s weight, it accounts for 30–40% of its value.
✅Animal Health & Vaccination Protocols: Pat Noonan (Midvalley Vet Clinic) and Emma Sargent (MSD Ruminant Area Veterinary Manager) shared best practices for maintaining herd health and implementing effective vaccination strategies.
✅Sustainability in Action: Luke McDermott, Kepak Sustainability Officer, outlined funding supports available to farmers, while Seamus Shealy showcased on-site actions that have significantly reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
The farm walk also highlighted Kepak Cork’s on-site sustainability innovations, which had resulted in a 65% reduction in carbon emissions since 2018. These innovations include wind-powered hot water generation, LED lighting upgrades, water recycling and real-time utility mapping.
Speaking at the farm walk in Cork, Edward Quinn, Cork Livestock Procurement Manager at Kepak, said, “Events like these provide farmers with a great opportunity to learn more about sectorial issues related to beef farming and how they might improve their own farming practices. On behalf of Kepak, we would like to extend our thanks to Brian and Noelle O’Keeffe for making their farm available to host such an insightful and successful farm walk.”
Eric Desmond, Kepak Cork Site Manager, also spoke at the event, “Kepak is committed to seeing our Cork site continue to thrive and its strength is a testament to the strong supplier base we have established over the last 50 years. We are pleased to be able to showcase our Forward Together with Every Step approach to farmers this evening which is all about knowledge sharing and working closely with our suppliers to introduce and implement innovative practices that enhance both productivity and environmental stewardship.
“Kepak has invested heavily in our Cork operations and contributes €22 million to the local economy. We look forward to seeing our Cork site go from strength to strength and hope that this farm walk has provided farmers with useful insights and guidance.”