Glanbia Ingredients Ireland’s newly-built milk protein facility on its existing site in Virginia, Co Cavan, has been officially opened, employing 100 people.
The expansion is specifically designed to meet the exacting technical standards of the clinical and lifestyle nutrition market, a business which is growing worldwide and predicted to expand by double digits over the next ten years.
Over €7.8m has been invested in the Virginia plant to build the new milk protein unit, which will more than double current milk protein capacity from 4,000 to 10,000 tonnes.
The facility will also continue its production of enriched milk powders for export markets as well as exclusive cream supply to the global Baileys brand.
Operating in Virginia since 1974, GII is currently investing €200m in value adding facilities with support from Enterprise Ireland, which represents one of the largest ever investment programmes ever undertaken by an indigenous company.
Jim Bergin, CEO of Glanbia Ingredients Ireland, said: “While we are conscious of current fluctuations in commodity pricing, the long range outlook for the business and for suppliers is positive – with a growing demand from customers for the high quality milk proteins we will be producing here in Virginia.
“The opening of our new plant ensures that both GII and our farmer suppliers will be able to capitalise on the generational opportunity that is provided by the ending of milk quotas next year.”
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024