Nestled in the scenic farm country of County Kilkenny in the South-East Ireland, Connolly’s RED MILLS has been the home of the Connolly family business since 1908.
Today, our products are available in over 80 countries across the globe and we are proudly recognised one of the most trusted global names in animal feeds, supplements and care products.
Our story spans over 100 years
In 1866, Michael Connolly, returned from America to inherit the family’s bakery business. He had emigrated to Long Island in New York in the 1840s, working as a head lad for a French horse trainer based there, and while he had been away the Great Famine and economic turmoil had changed Ireland.
Seeing potential in a mill in a town called Goresbridge which had been built in 1758 by Englishman John Handy, Michael bought the mill in 1908, restarting it as William Connolly & Sons Ltd – named after his youngest son, William.
When William took over, there were four other mills in the area, all producing similar products for the local farming community. To make Connolly’s stand out, he painted the roof red – unwittingly creating a brand icon, now known across the globe as RED MILLS.
William steered the company through two world wars, the Depression, and Foot and Mouth Disease in 1941, handing over to his son Liam at the birth of the technology boom, which he embraced.
Innovators
Fast forward to 1963, when local racehorse trainer Paddy Mullins came to the Connollys for advice on a horse that wouldn’t eat up. They didn’t make horse feed, but Liam decided to work on it.
He made a formula to encompass all the nutritional requirements of the horse, then cooked it to make it more appetising and digestible.
He came up with a feed that Mullins heralded as the turning point in the horse’s development and the horse - Vulpine, went on to win the 1966 Powers Gold Cup and the 1967 Irish Grand National.
Naturally wholesome foods, from our family to yours
Today, the RED MILLS brand is available in 80 countries around the world, and we continue to build on our reputation for converting fresh, natural ingredients into the most trusted feed for animals right around the world.
Our on-site testing laboratories, quality test every ingredient upon arrival, and monitor for Naturally Occurring Prohibited Substances through every step of the feed-making process, using the same technology employed for testing athletes at the Olympics.
In 2012 we took over Foran, a market leader in equine, pet & human healthcare products worldwide, further developing our precision nutrition ethos.
At the start of 2020 we welcomed Carr & Day & Martin to the RED MILLS family. Established in 1765, and one of the oldest manufacturer of horse care products, Carr & Day & Martin have held a Royal Warrant since the reign of King George IV, and as a part of Connolly's RED MILLS continue to lead the market in producing premium products that provide a complete care programme for horses.