Irish Co-operative Organisation Society

Name

Irish Co-operative Organisation Society

Legal name

Irish Co-operative Organisation Society Limited

Website

https://icos.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1894

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Services: ICOS generates revenue through membership fees from its 130 co-operative member organizations. The organization provides co-operative development, registration services, training (via ICOS Skillnet), and policy advocacy for its members.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ICOS is a representative and advocacy organization that serves Ireland's 130 co-operative enterprises spanning dairy processing, livestock marts, group water schemes, and rural businesses. It delivers co-operative registration and development services under Ireland's Industrial and Provident Societies Acts, sector-specific policy representation via its Dairy, Marts, and Rural Business Committees, EU-level advocacy through its Brussels office, and training through ICOS Skillnet including the Diploma in Corporate Direction (Food Business) in partnership with UCC.

Product overview

The Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) operates as a representative and support organization for co-operative enterprises in Ireland rather than a product company with a unified platform. Its core offerings include: (1) Co-operative Registration & Development Services - helping establish and develop new co-operatives under Irish law; (2) ICOS Skillnet - providing training programmes and professional development for the agri-food sector; (3) Milk Quality Ireland - delivering milk quality improvement and milking equipment certification services; (4) EU Policy Representation through its Brussels office; and (5) sector representation through its Dairy Committee, Marts Committee, and Rural Business Committee. ICOS also manages associated initiatives including the Golden Jubilee Trust, Plunkett Institute, and CoOp.ie portal for finding co-operatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ICOS Skillnet Training and professional development platform offering programmes for co-operative members and the agri-food sector, including the ICOS-UCC Diploma in Corporate Direction (Food Business) delivered in partnership with University College Cork.
• Milk Quality Ireland Quality assurance service dedicated to improving milk quality standards in Ireland by maintaining a register of certified milking machine technicians and ensuring installation and testing standards meet international benchmarks.
• Co-operative Registration & Development Services Advisory service providing guidance on co-operative start-ups and development, promoting co-operatives as a sustainable business model, and assisting with registering new co-operatives under Ireland's Industrial and Provident Societies Acts.
• EU Policy Representation (ICOS Brussels Office) Brussels-based service that represents Irish co-operative interests at EU level, engaging with European Commission officials, MEPs, and participating in Copa-Cogeca activities to influence EU agricultural and dairy policy.
• Dairy Committee Representation Sector representation service through which ICOS represents dairy processing co-operative interests, addressing milk pricing, supply contracts, sustainability, and market developments via the ICOS Dairy Committee.
• Livestock Marts Committee Representation Sector representation service through which ICOS represents co-operative livestock mart interests nationally and at EU level, addressing animal welfare, mart operations, and regulatory matters affecting the sector.
• Rural Business Committee Representation Sector representation service addressing rural business co-operative matters including group water schemes, farm services, animal health, genetics, renewable energy, and community development.

Quantifiable outcome

• ICOS represents co-operatives with combined turnover of €14 billion
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RAISE Project (Renewal of Agriculture through Intergenerational Support & Empowerment)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThree-year programme co-funded by the EU and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, aimed at securing the future of Irish farming through generational renewal. ICOS serves on the steering group (Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Council) alongside Teagasc, UCC, Macra Na Feirme, Aurivo, Dairygold, Lakeland Dairies, Tirlán, and three active farmer representatives.
• Copa-CogecacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint association of European farmers and agricultural co-operatives. ICOS participates in Copa-Cogeca activities including protests and policy advocacy at EU level regarding CAP reforms and agricultural policy.
• EucolaitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Dairy Trade Association based in Brussels, representing approximately 430 dairy trading companies from 21 countries with estimated combined turnover of €80 billion. Anne Randles (Director of Corporate Affairs at Ornua) elected President of Eucolait in June 2025.
• ICOS SkillnetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICOS Skillnet provides training and development programs for the co-operative sector, including the ICOS-UCC Diploma in Corporate Direction (Food Business). Part of the ICOS ecosystem of related organizations.
• Milk Quality IrelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization established in 1989 to improve milk quality standards in Ireland and maintain milking machine installation/testing standards. An ICOS-affiliated related organization.
• Golden Jubilee TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn ICOS-affiliated related organization within the ICOS ecosystem of co-operative support organizations.
• Plunkett InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn ICOS-affiliated related organization within the ICOS ecosystem of co-operative support organizations.
• CoOp.ieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn ICOS-affiliated related organization within the ICOS ecosystem of co-operative support organizations.
• TeagasccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrish Agriculture and Food Development Authority. Partners with ICOS member co-operatives on sustainability programs, delivers nutrient balance consultations via AgNav platform, and collaborates on farm events and training.
• Dairygold Co-operativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICOS member co-operative with Grassroots Sustainability Programme. 1,500 milk suppliers completed nutrient balance consultations as part of the programme, with individual consultations delivered by Teagasc sustainability advisors.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Co-operatives UK: The UK peak body for co-operative enterprises, providing representation, development services, and policy advocacy for UK co-operatives. Closely comparable to ICOS in mission, structure, and membership-based service model.
• Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS): Scotland's national federation of co-operatives, focused on agricultural and rural co-operatives. Directly comparable to ICOS as a Scotland-specific mirror of the Irish co-operative umbrella body.
• Plunkett Foundation: UK charity supporting rural and community co-operatives, with heritage dating back to 1919. Comparable to ICOS in its co-operative development, advocacy, and rural community focus (notably, ICOS also has a Plunkett Institute subsidiary).
• Cooperatives Europe: The European region of the International Co-operative Alliance, representing co-operative enterprises at the EU level. Comparable as ICOS's pan-European counterpart for co-operative policy representation.
• National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC): US national trade association representing the interests of America's farmer-owned co-operatives. Direct equivalent in mission and structure to ICOS at a US scale.
• Deutscher Genossenschafts- und Raiffeisenverband (DGRV): The national apex body of the German co-operative sector, including agricultural co-operatives. Comparable to ICOS as a national-level representative body for agricultural and other co-operatives.
• La Coopération Agricole: The French national federation of agricultural co-operatives, representing the interests of French farmer co-operatives. Direct equivalent in mission and structure to ICOS in the French market.

Broad incumbents

• Copa-Cogeca: The combined voice of European farmers and agricultural co-operatives at EU level. ICOS actively participates in Copa-Cogeca activities; comparable as a broader EU-level incumbent that overlaps with ICOS's policy advocacy role.
• National Farmers' Union (NFU): The largest farming representative body in England and Wales, providing advocacy and member services across all farming sectors. Comparable to ICOS in agricultural advocacy and member services, though not co-operative-specific.
• Irish Farmers' Association (IFA): Ireland's principal national farming representative organization. Operates in the same Irish agriculture space as ICOS, providing overlapping advocacy services to Irish farmers, though with a different (broader, not co-op-specific) remit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ICOS1894

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Irish Co-operative Organisation Society