By John Considine
This week the Sunday Business Post announced that The Competition Authority was launching a Phase II investigation into the proposed takeover of Wexford Creamery by Glanbia. The Competition Authority moved it to a Phase II investigation because it was unable to conclude that the acquisition would not substantially lessen competition. The business world was following the sporting world. For almost two decades Wexford GAA players carried the sponsorship of Wexford Creamery on their shirts. This ended five years ago. A couple of weeks ago it was announced that Glanbia would now be sponsoring Wexford hurlers and footballers. The Wexford players will carry the Gain logo on their shirts for 2014.
Wexford hurlers are now being sponsored by the same company that sponsors Kilkenny - Wexford’s great rivals and chief tormentors for the last decade and a half. The Kilkenny players carry the Avonmore logo on their shirts. Hurling supporters might wonder if The Competition Authority should allow this "takeover" of the Wexford shirt given Kilkenny's dominance of the Leinster Hurling Championship!!! Kilkenny won every title between 1998 and 2011 except for Wexford's 2004 triumph. Of course, Kilkenny's dominance at senior level has probably more to do with the fact that they won every under-18 Leinster tiles between 1990 and 2004 with the exception of Offaly's win in 2000.
Glanbia's investment in the sponsorship of gaelic games is not their most significant sporting related investment. Another takeover by Glanbia also made the headlines this week. When announcing their annual results Glanbia highlighted the acquisition of Nutramino Holding ApS (“Nutramino”), a Scandinavian sports nutrition business with operations in Denmark, Sweden and Norway. According to Glanbia, “Nutramino focuses primarily on branded, ready-to-consume products sold through the gym and convenience channels. The acquisition gives us a strong foothold in the Scandinavian market and offers the potential to leverage Nutramino capability in the convenience sector in other markets. The business was acquired for a total consideration of approximately €25.5 million, a portion of which is contingent on future earnings.” It seems that Glanbia was benefitting from their “focus on the specialty and internet sports nutrition market sub-segments which remain the largest and among the fastest growing segments in the
market”.
Wexford hurlers are now being sponsored by the same company that sponsors Kilkenny - Wexford’s great rivals and chief tormentors for the last decade and a half. The Kilkenny players carry the Avonmore logo on their shirts. Hurling supporters might wonder if The Competition Authority should allow this "takeover" of the Wexford shirt given Kilkenny's dominance of the Leinster Hurling Championship!!! Kilkenny won every title between 1998 and 2011 except for Wexford's 2004 triumph. Of course, Kilkenny's dominance at senior level has probably more to do with the fact that they won every under-18 Leinster tiles between 1990 and 2004 with the exception of Offaly's win in 2000.
Glanbia's investment in the sponsorship of gaelic games is not their most significant sporting related investment. Another takeover by Glanbia also made the headlines this week. When announcing their annual results Glanbia highlighted the acquisition of Nutramino Holding ApS (“Nutramino”), a Scandinavian sports nutrition business with operations in Denmark, Sweden and Norway. According to Glanbia, “Nutramino focuses primarily on branded, ready-to-consume products sold through the gym and convenience channels. The acquisition gives us a strong foothold in the Scandinavian market and offers the potential to leverage Nutramino capability in the convenience sector in other markets. The business was acquired for a total consideration of approximately €25.5 million, a portion of which is contingent on future earnings.” It seems that Glanbia was benefitting from their “focus on the specialty and internet sports nutrition market sub-segments which remain the largest and among the fastest growing segments in the
market”.
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