Kepak Cork investment to create 155 jobs

Food company Kepak Cork today announced a €10 million expansion of its Watergrasshill plant that will create 155 new jobs over three years.

The company, a subsidiary of the Meath-based Kepak Group, is to produce a range of heat and serve meals that will generate exports to the value of €55 million.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin said: "This high quality ‘Heat and Serve’ project is an ambitious addition to their product range and the culmination of three years of product research which was supported by Enterprise Ireland."

Mr Martin said: "This important development demonstrates the potential impact of research and development in generating knock-on exports and employment."

The Cork company is part of the Kepak Group, which was founded in 1981 as a red meat processor, supplying supermarkets and other food service facilities from its plant in Clonee, Co Meath.

Around 1,200 people are now employed at the company's plants due to the massive expansion programme over the last two-decades.

Kepak, which is trading as 'Global Cuisine - Ready Roast', will be selling a product range including roast beef in gravy, roast lamb in mint gravy, roast chicken in savoury chicken gravy and pork in gravy.

Gerard Brickley, part of the Global Cuisine 'Heat & Serve' development team, said the products were based on strong research at technical, consumer and trade levels.

Mike Feeney, executive director of Enterprise Ireland, said the prepared food sector was currently experiencing major growth.

He added: "Valuable market opportunities continue to be available for Irish food companies which are willing to undertake the necessary research and to build the capability to respond quickly to consumer demands."

Mr Feeney said the body would continue to provide development support to other companies within the food industry.