Ornua opens €40m expansion in Cork to fuel global growth

Ornua has opened a new €40 million development at its butter production facility in Co Cork that will support plans for significant global growth at the company.

The investment at Kerrygold Park in Mitchelstown has helped the facility increase production to more than 1 million packs of butter a day, and also add jobs. Ornua, which is the State’s largest dairy exporter, currently employs 180 people at Kerrygold Park, with the investment accounting for 30 of those positions.

“For the past 60 years, Kerrygold has proudly brought the unique taste of Irish grass-fed dairy to the world on behalf of Ornua’s Member Co-operatives and the 14,000 dairy farming families they represent. We are collectively proud of the success the brand has achieved internationally, including in major markets such as the US where Kerrygold is the second largest butter brand,” said Aidan O’Driscoll, Ornua Co-operative chair. “We are also passionate about growing the brand’s global status further and focused on safeguarding the value it returns to the Irish dairy sector through the premiumisation of Irish dairy. Our strategic development of Kerrygold Park is central to this ambition.”

Ornua has big plans for its brand. Kerrygold is aiming to become the country’s first €2 billion food brand, and is experiencing a rise in global demand, particularly in the US.

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Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue said the development was a “very significant milestone” for the brand and Irish dairy. “Irish dairy farming families work tirelessly to produce the world-class milk which makes Kerrygold a world-famous dairy brand,” he said. “This strategic investment, supported by Government’s Capital Investment Scheme, ensures Kerrygold has the world-leading processing capabilities needed to continue to grow the brand and generate value for the community of Irish dairy farming families which it represents.”

The expansion was supported by Enterprise Ireland. Executive directive Jenny Melia said the upgraded facility was “a lighthouse” to other Irish food companies looking to innovate and grow exports.