GIIL is investing €150M (£126M) in the new Belview dairy, which will create 1,600 new jobs. The dairy will process 1.6bn litres of milk, representing 30% of Ireland’s milk pool, into a range of dairy ingredients for export to more than 50 countries.
Construction is scheduled to begin on May 17 and the new facility is expected to begin production in Spring 2015.
The project was first announced in September 2012, as reported in FoodManufacture.co.uk.
It is backed by the Irish government through Enterprise Ireland and is expected to boost Ireland’s rural economy by €400M a year. The plant will be entirely focused on export markets and will supply a range of nutritional powders to regions, including the Middle East, Africa, Central America and Asia.
Vote of confidence
Welcoming the announcement, Ireland’s Taoiseach Enda Kenny said: “The government is delighted to support GIIL’s significant investment in the Irish dairy industry as it represents a massive vote of confidence in Ireland and our agri-food sector.
“Glanbia is one of Ireland’s great home-grown success stories and their investment in the South East region will be welcomed by rural communities and farmers.”
Simon Coveney, minister for agriculture, food and the marine, added: “Today’s announcement by GIIL is a milestone in realising the tremendous potential for dairy expansion which is a cornerstone of the Food Harvest 2020 strategy.
“A vision for the sector is being delivered by industry and is being supported by coherent government action to improve efficiency and reduce on farm costs, to demonstrate Ireland’s sustainable production systems, to provide critical assistance to develop new products that will add value to top class Irish raw materials, and to improve competitiveness at processing level.”
Strategic development
GIIL ceo, Jim Bergin, said: “The Belview facility is a significant, strategic development for our business. Most of all, it reflects our confidence in, and commitment to our 4,300 milk suppliers. By providing this additional processing capacity we will be facilitating milk suppliers in their ambition to avail of the opportunity presented by quota abolition post 2015.
“We are very pleased that, through Enterprise Ireland, the government is acknowledging the economic contribution of the Belview project. It will contribute €400M per annum to the local economies of 16 surrounding counties and demonstrates a real long-term commitment to farming families and the rural economy.”