The head of James Crean's food operations in the US, Mr Matt Kwasek, is the group's highest-paid director and received a total package of €826,000 (£655,000) last year, according to the Crean annual report. This compared with a €375,000 package for Mr Kwasek in 1998. The main reason for the big increase in Mr Kwasek's package is a bonus of €528,000 compared to a bonus of €98,000 the previous year. His basic salary and other benefits were little changed.

The three Irish-based directors - chairman/chief executive Mr Ray McLoughlin, recently-retired director Mr Martin Delaney and finance director Mr Larry Westman - shared a combined package of €737,000, down from €896,000 in 1998.